Updated APACC Statement (March 23, 2020)
Dear Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (APACC) community,
We at APACC acknowledge that the shift due to COVID-19 can be intense for many members of our community. We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during this time of constant change and uncertainty.
Per the advice of public health officials and weighing many public factors to keep our communities safe, APACC will be virtually open but the office space will be closed starting Monday, March 23rd. Staff will be available via email and audio/video meetings.
As we continue to practice social distancing, APACC is committed to keep creating spaces where we can be in solidarity with each other. No one should have to deal with this alone.
We are actively compiling a list of resources and tools that address issues from moving out, finding community, updates, to ways of coping. Here is the link to the resource document.
Moving forward, here are the changes we have made:
APACC will be available virtually by contacting any of the professional staff:
JoAnn Cornell, joann.cornell@colostate.edu
Carl Murray Olsen, carl.murray_olsen@colostate.edu
Atlas Tan, atlas.tanudjaja@colostate.edu
Story Circle, our weekly APIDA support group, will continue to meet online every Monday at 4 to 5:30 Mountain Standard Time. Please sign up through this link and we will email you the link on the time of the meeting. You can also stay updated by tuning into our Instagram and Facebook.
Chai to Understand will continue to host meaningful discussions online. We know this was an incredibly important community space, so we are committed to making it continue to happen weekly. Look for updates on our Instagram and Facebook.
Office hours are available via video calls if you’d like to meet with one of our professional staff. We are open Mondays to Fridays 8am to 5pm MST. Our job here is to help you with anything you’re needing, even if you just need someone to process some stuff in your life, we are here to support you. Please email apacc.csu@gmail.com or the above emails to set a time with us.
We have created an APACC Google Group for students to connect, support, and keep in touch with each other.
Beyond the logistics, APACC wants you to know that the professional staff also feels like we’re in a fog. With all of the uncertainty both professionally and personally, we hear you and see you when you feel powerless with the rapid updates of information. We acknowledge those who are graduating and not being able to celebrate in May and want you to know how proud we are of you and your accomplishments. We hope you find ways to grieve this loss and still celebrate your huge milestone.
If you’re struggling with the uncertainty and needing support, or even just someone to talk to, please meet with one of us at APACC, we are here to support you. You can also join our Story Circle, which is a space for us to share and support each other. It’s easier when we don’t have to deal with things alone.
We’d like to add to the existing voice of our disabled community. As all of campus mobilizes for accessibility and remote access to accommodate people staying home, it is incredibly frustrating that a pandemic is what inspires institutional change for the disabled community and not the current and historical systemic and institutional oppression happening right here at CSU. Although parts of the disabled community are still being silenced, we hope this change opens us up to hearing more about ability oppression in our society.
We’d like to add to the existing voice of our community of survivors of interpersonal violence. As we continue to push policies that create isolation, we know that isolation is used by perpetrators of gender-based violence to exercise power over their victims. If you need confidential services related to interpersonal violence (sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking), call the Victim Assistance Team at (970) 492-4242. For more information, go to www.wgac.colostate.edu and here is the Women and Gender Advocacy Center’s official statement.
We’d like to add to the existing voice of our LGBTQ+ community. Not only does language around CORVID-19 trigger the current status of HIV/AIDS that is still impacting our communities, but as some of our students are forced to stay home, this can reignite extreme tension of living with parents who are unwilling to look past their own homophobia and transphobia.
Racism, xenophobia, and sinophobia continue to persist in the APIDA community. Especially with Trump calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus.” We take this opportunity to remind ourselves of our solidarity with all those who are dealing and healing from racism. For our previous statement about racism and xenophobia, check out our website at apacc.colostate.edu.
And a special word of thanks to our facilities staff, dining and housing team, faculty, staff, students and the families and friends that are going to extraordinary efforts themselves to take care of loved ones right now.
Stay in touch. Be kind. Be safe. Take care of yourself and each other. Let us know how we can support you. We are here for you.
~Asian Pacific American Cultural Center (APACC)
APACC Statement
March 2, 2020
As we say often, “Rams take care of Rams”. Unfortunately we are seeing incidents where this is not the case in light of the coronavirus.
This is not the first time in U.S. history that Asian Americans are being subjected to unwarranted suspicion, playing on historical racist beliefs that people of color don’t belong. From the swine flu that was wrongly associated with Mexican Americans in 2009 and the Ebola outbreak associated with Black and African Americans in 2014, the coronavirus is only the most recent example of believing people of color are inherently diseased. There are reports across the country of Asian Americans being denied services and being physically assaulted.
It is okay to plan and prepare for coronavirus. It is ignorant and wrong to attack Asian people because you are afraid. These stories are heartbreaking and disturbing. Asian International students and Asian American students here at CSU are feeling a heightened sense of discrimination from peers and staff. Let’s do better. Let’s rise above these misconceptions and false notions. No disease is race-specific and race itself is a social construct rather than a biological one. Instead of isolating our fellow Rams, let’s do our best to show our care and support.
-Asian Pacific American Cultural Center
If you’ve been targeted by race-based behavior, you have several options. You can submit a report to https://supportandsafety.colostate.edu/incidents-of-bias/. The Asian Pacific American Cultural Center is located in room 333 in the Lory Student Center. You can find community and support with your fellow students and professional staff. We have “Story Circle” on Monday’s from 4-5:30 in APACC. It is a weekly supportive space for those who identify as Native Hawai’ian, Pacific Islander, Middle Eastern, Asian American, Desi, Transracial Adoptee, and Mixed Race. International students are welcome to our Center as well. Students who identify as international can also find support at the Office of International Programs in Laurel Hall. Advisors are available daily for open advising M-F 9:30-11:30 and 1:00-3:00 or you may call (970) 491-5917 for assistance.
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APACC welcomes all students and seeks to create a safe place for students of all backgrounds. APACC runs several educational and volunteer programs for students to help spread awareness of Asian American culture and connect students with one another.
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