Denounce Anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Racism

Spring
2021
Resolution Number
03.03
 
Assigned to
Executive Committee
Category
Diversity and Equity
Status
Assigned

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges’ Inclusivity Statement

recognizes the benefits to students, faculty, and the community college system gained from the variety of personal experiences, values, and views of a diverse group of individuals with different backgrounds. This diversity includes but is not limited to race, ethnicity, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability status, age, cultural background, veteran status, discipline or field, and experience. We also understand that the California Community College System itself is diverse in terms of the size, location, and student population of its colleges and districts, and we seek participation from faculty across the system. The Academic Senate respects and is committed to promoting equal opportunity and inclusion of diverse voices and opinions. We endeavor to have a diversity of talented faculty participate in Academic Senate activities and support local senates in recruiting and encouraging faculty with different backgrounds to serve on Academic Senate standing committees and task forces. In particular, the Academic Senate acknowledges the need to remove barriers to the recruitment and participation of talented faculty from historically excluded populations in society;1

Whereas, The Academic Senate for California Community Colleges has previously affirmed its commitment to systemic equity in numerous resolutions, including Resolution 03.01 “Adopt the “Student Equity: From Dialog and Access to Action” Paper” (2010), Resolution 03.04 “Adopt the Paper Equity-Driven Systems: Student Equity and Achievement in the California Community Colleges” (2019), Resolution 3.01 “Support the Antiracism Pledge” (2020), and Resolution 3.03 “Adopt Antiracism Education Paper” (2020);

Whereas, Several community colleges in the state of California have identified the following core goals:

  • To integrate an accurate portrayal of the roles and contributions of all groups throughout history across curricula, particularly groups that have been underrepresented historically;
  • To identify how bias, stereotyping, and discrimination have limited the roles and contributions of individuals and groups and how these limitations have challenged and continue to challenge society;
  • To encourage all members of the educational community to examine assumptions and prejudices, including but not limited to racism, sexism, and homophobia, that might limit the opportunities and growth of students and employees;
  • To offer positive and diverse role models in society, including the recruitment, hiring, and promotion of diverse employees in community colleges;
  • To coordinate with organizations and concerned agencies that promote the contributions, heritage, culture, history, and health and care needs of diverse population groups;
  • To promote a safe and inclusive environment for all; 2 and

Whereas, Higher education at colleges within California should establish places where all faculty and staff members, administrators, and students have the right to study and work in a safe environment free of racism, discrimination, intolerance, and violence, but the outbreak of COVID-19 has given rise to racist and inflammatory rhetoric in public discourse meant to stigmatize members of the AAPI communities, exacerbating the microaggressions and violence toward persons of AAPI ancestry and increasing the number of hate crimes and incidents – physical assault, vandalism, coughing and spitting, verbal harassment, shunning or avoidance, and refusal of service – against AAPI persons nationwide 3, and the model minority myth by which AAPI persons are deemed self- sufficient and as such requiring neither assistance nor attention, along with the resultant widespread gaslighting of anti-AAPI racism ranging from incidents to violent hate crimes that is occurring nationally is a real threat to students and employees at all California community colleges;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges condemn the oppressive forces of anti-AAPI racism, denounce xenophobia and anti-AAPI sentiment, and urge the documentation and investigation of all reported incidents in order to promote respect and protection of the AAPI community;

Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges create opportunities for faculty to engage in ongoing critical reflections, conversations, and intentional efforts – such as educating from culturally appropriate curriculum – in addressing racial, social, and economic injustices and inequities, within AAPI communities, thereby further humanizing AAPI students, faculty, staff members, and administrative colleagues; and Resolved, That the Academic Senate for California Community Colleges engage in advocacy and collaborative efforts to protect AAPI students, employees, communities, and victims of discrimination and commit to working with campus groups, administration, students, and classified professional colleagues across the system to organize and present local campus and district anti-racism advocacy and education events and efforts.

MSA


1. https://asccc.org/resources/resolutions?field_resolution_number_value=&… us_code_tid=All&title_1
2. Grossmont College Academic Senate’s “A RESOLUTION of the Grossmont College Academic Senate to denounce Anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) racism” (attached PDF), approved on March 1, 2021 And De Anza College’s “A RESOLUTION of the De Anza College Academic Senate to Denounce Anti-Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Racism,” approved on March 15, 2021
3. https://stopaapihate.org/reportsreleases/