[Copy of email sent to President Faust on Oct. 30, 2014]
Dear President Faust,
Thank you so much for arranging the meeting with Dean Khurana last week. We appreciate the candor of Dean Khurana, Officer Catalano, Ms. Margulies, Dr. Counter and Dean Thimba in answering our questions. While our discussion resolved some of our confusion regarding the facts and informed us of steps that were taken to investigate and address the immediate threat of violence on Oct. 3/4, we remain unaware of the basis of the University's determination that the threat was and is not credible given that the perpetrator—who has not been identified and is not in custody—has been engaging in increasingly disturbing behavior since early in the year. We also continue to be extremely concerned about the ongoing lack of communication regarding the incident and the powerful message of silence that is being sent to all members of the University community—students, faculty, staff and alumni alike.
Thank you so much for arranging the meeting with Dean Khurana last week. We appreciate the candor of Dean Khurana, Officer Catalano, Ms. Margulies, Dr. Counter and Dean Thimba in answering our questions. While our discussion resolved some of our confusion regarding the facts and informed us of steps that were taken to investigate and address the immediate threat of violence on Oct. 3/4, we remain unaware of the basis of the University's determination that the threat was and is not credible given that the perpetrator—who has not been identified and is not in custody—has been engaging in increasingly disturbing behavior since early in the year. We also continue to be extremely concerned about the ongoing lack of communication regarding the incident and the powerful message of silence that is being sent to all members of the University community—students, faculty, staff and alumni alike.
Nearly four weeks ago, a hate crime was perpetrated against more than 400 University students and faculty, while the majority of them were on Harvard's campus in your care. We were encouraged to hear from Officer Catalano that Harvard authorities have pursued this case as a hate crime from the start and that the investigation is ongoing. But we are surprised and disappointed that the University has not yet made a public statement condemning this act in clear and certain terms. Even though the immediate physical threat was deemed not credible, the psychological and emotional threat created by the words of hate persists and leaves members of the Harvard community feeling vulnerable and unprotected. The University's failure to acknowledge—and its censoring of mentions of—the racist nature of the threat (whether or not the individuals targeted self-identify as Asian) reads as a denial that racism against Asians exists and/or a denial that such racism is as repugnant and intolerable as acts of hate against any other group.
We respectfully request that a University-wide message be sent by you condemning the threats of Oct. 3 that targeted Asians and Asian-Americans and women and outlining Harvard's stance regarding hate crimes. The University's continuing pursuit with law enforcement of the perpetrator, which we hope is vigorous, should also be communicated so that it is known to all affected that the University is seeking justice and protection on their behalf. As Harvard is a world leader in thought and action, we look to you to set a standard for how other Universities and institutions will consider and respond to such actions within their walls. Rather than cause division, condemnations of acts of hate at other schools have fostered understanding, learning and healing.
Furthermore we believe that the University should establish an official policy and procedure for dealing with hate crimes. We realize that Harvard is highly decentralized, but as with sexual assault, this is too important and difficult of an issue for Deans or House Masters to be left to confront on their own in the heat of the moment. Let us make clear, however, that while such incidents should obviously be handled better in the future, the current situation is not at an end and demands a response now.
Our Summit last weekend was another truly moving gathering of 500+ Asian and Asian-American alumni, students, faculty and staff. We thanked you there for your early support and continue to be grateful for your recognition of the significance of cultural bonds in bringing members of the Harvard community together. Our group and the undersigned (as well as others we expect to endorse this letter shortly) exist not only to celebrate what we share but also to safeguard our right to feel safe, to thrive and to be fully empowered at Harvard. We expect the University to confront head-on this despicable act that is an affront not only to those who received the emails, not only to Asians and Asian-Americans and women, but also to every member of the Harvard community and to the values that we believe are at the core of our institution.
Sincerely yours,
We respectfully request that a University-wide message be sent by you condemning the threats of Oct. 3 that targeted Asians and Asian-Americans and women and outlining Harvard's stance regarding hate crimes. The University's continuing pursuit with law enforcement of the perpetrator, which we hope is vigorous, should also be communicated so that it is known to all affected that the University is seeking justice and protection on their behalf. As Harvard is a world leader in thought and action, we look to you to set a standard for how other Universities and institutions will consider and respond to such actions within their walls. Rather than cause division, condemnations of acts of hate at other schools have fostered understanding, learning and healing.
Furthermore we believe that the University should establish an official policy and procedure for dealing with hate crimes. We realize that Harvard is highly decentralized, but as with sexual assault, this is too important and difficult of an issue for Deans or House Masters to be left to confront on their own in the heat of the moment. Let us make clear, however, that while such incidents should obviously be handled better in the future, the current situation is not at an end and demands a response now.
Our Summit last weekend was another truly moving gathering of 500+ Asian and Asian-American alumni, students, faculty and staff. We thanked you there for your early support and continue to be grateful for your recognition of the significance of cultural bonds in bringing members of the Harvard community together. Our group and the undersigned (as well as others we expect to endorse this letter shortly) exist not only to celebrate what we share but also to safeguard our right to feel safe, to thrive and to be fully empowered at Harvard. We expect the University to confront head-on this despicable act that is an affront not only to those who received the emails, not only to Asians and Asian-Americans and women, but also to every member of the Harvard community and to the values that we believe are at the core of our institution.
Sincerely yours,
Bill Yao AB '90, President, Harvard Asian American Alumni Alliance
Co-Signers:
Harvard South Asian Alumni Alliance
Association of Harvard Asian and Asian American Faculty and Staff:
Harvard Black Alumni Society
Harvard Black Alumni Society
Harvard University Muslim Alumni
Harvard Arab Alumni Association
Association of Harvard Latino Faculty and Staff
Harvard LGBT Faculty and Staff Association
Harvard LGBT Faculty and Staff Association
Native American Alumni of Harvard Universit
Asian Coalition for Education (HGSE)
Asian Coalition for Education (HGSE)
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[Email sent to H4A Members on Oct. 23, 2014]
Concerning the Racist Death Threats to Asian Students
Dear H4A Members:
On Oct 3rd and in the days following, hundreds of Harvard Asian and Asian-American students and affiliates, primarily women, were emailed a racist death threat. The author referred to the recipients as "slit eyes" and threatened to come to Harvard to “shoot all of you” and “kill you individually.” A Harvard police spokesperson responded that the threats "may not be credible.” Some students were still receiving emails one week after the threats.
Here are links to details about the case:
Many Asian and Asian-American students have expressed the view that Harvard has failed to adequately support them in the face of these threats because the perpetrator has not been identified, because the University has failed to explain how the perpetrator gained access to their email accounts and identities, and because Harvard leaders have not strongly condemned the racist and terrifying nature of these attacks and provided support to students.
H4A alumni parents are concerned for their children’s safety and worried that there has been a lack of urgency and sensitivity on the part of the University in the face of what we consider to be hate crimes. Twenty-two parents wrote to President Faust last week asking for an explanation of how the perpetrator was able to make these threats and what steps the University has taken to deal with the perpetrator, prevent further attacks, and make Asian-American students feel safe and supported.
Within 24 hours, President Faust answered and arranged a meeting for us with Rakesh Khurana, the Dean of the College, the HUPD and IT staff to be held during the Summit this weekend. She stated: "The safety of our students—your children—is paramount, and we will do everything we can to assure their security and ensure that communications are swift and comprehensive."
The H4A Executive Committee has voted to endorse the concerns expressed by the parent alums in their letter. We urge University officials to strongly condemn these racist attacks, to explain what their investigation has shown and why the threats are not credible, and to take action to bring the perpetrator to justice.
For those of you attending the Summit, we will be sharing what we learn from our meeting with Dean Khurana at the H4A General Meeting at 1:45 p.m. on Sunday afternoon in Science Center Hall A. If you are not attending the Summit but are in the area, please feel free to join us. If you have any questions or thoughts, please email H4A University Affairs Co-Chairs Margaret Chin and Jeannie Park at uni-affairs@haaaa.net.
Sincerely
Your H4A Executive Committee
PS: When swastikas recently appeared on the Yale campus, the Yale college dean responded forcefully, writing " There is no room for hate in this house." http://www.businessinsider.com/swastikas-yale-university-2014-10/
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