President’s Message: Standing with our AAPI Community

The message below was shared by Meredith College President Jo Allen, ’80, in support of our Asian American and  Pacific Islander community.

To the Meredith Community:

I am heartbroken over the deplorable acts of violence that took place in Atlanta this week, senselessly taking eight lives, including six women in the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.

My heart is with the families of the victims: Daoyou Feng, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, and the four others whose names have not yet been publicly released. We mourn this tragic loss of life.

I also want to state clearly that Meredith College stands in solidarity with the AAPI community, including our AAPI students, employees, and alumnae/i.

These crimes serve as a harsh reminder that our nation’s AAPI community has increasingly been enduring discrimination and hate. On behalf of the College, I strongly condemn this discrimination and all threats to the health, safety, and livelihood of the AAPI community.

The Executive Leadership Team and I call on everyone at Meredith to stand united against violence, hate, and intolerance. Tragedies like this one remind us of why we must continue working toward creating an anti-racist community here at Meredith and beyond.

We also encourage you to reach out for support from professional resources here at Meredith. Students can seek support from our Counseling Center, Chaplain, Dean of Students staff, and Office of International Programs. Our Chaplain can also be a resource for faculty and staff.

Sincerely,
Jo Allen, ’80