In Solidarity with our Communities Here and Abroad

May 5, 2021

Dear campus community,

As we enter the last weeks of the semester, I want to take the time to raise awareness about troubling incidents that are affecting members of our campus community, local community and global community.

First, today is #MMIW Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness about the continuing tragedy and loss of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit people through acts of racial violence and misogyny in the U.S. and Canada. A majority of these murders are committed by non-Native peoples on Indigenous land. As a campus it is important for us to know that our awareness extends to conditions of settler colonialism that our Indigenous colleagues and students experience in their everyday lives. We stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities. I want to commend the work of one of our faculty, Dr. Soma de Bourbon and her students in previous years for their moving and impactful annual campus installment of the Red Dress Project that many of you may remember from recent years. For more information, events, and resources on MWIW, you can visit.

I also want to offer belated condolences to our Jewish community for the loss of life of Jewish Israelis five days ago, when 45 people were killed and 100 more injured during a stampede while attending a religious festival in Israel. Some of the victims were children. We know that this loss of life impacts members of the Jewish community as well as anyone who can only imagine this horrific loss of life at a time when people were gathered to worship and celebrate.

Lastly, I want to recognize the great concern, fear, and anger at the killing of over 30 people in different cities and towns of Colombia by militarized police who have been firing into crowds of peaceful tax reform protesters over the last 7 days. We know that there is great fear as observers report inaccurate information about the extent of civilian casualties, serious injuries, sexual assaults, and the extent of individuals detained. This uncertainty, public violence, and the militarization of the country weighs heavily on those members of our campus community who are Colombians and have friends and family in Colombia as protesters turn to protesting this police violence, economic inequality, and human rights violations spread wide across other regions in the country.

It is often difficult to publicly acknowledge the tragedies, travesties, and issues that impact our campus communities. I know that there is a sense of outrage fatigue, a sense of yet another horrible incident. For some, these incidents bring but a brief notice, maybe even sadness, but for some the pain, grief, and suffering stretches over days, months, years, and generations. It is important to know that in this global and local community of San José State University that many of the world’s troubles impact various members of our campus community at different times. And while some may read this message as just another message in the long line of messages on mass shootings, violence, death from COVID-19, each message helps us make visible and give voice to the stresses and grief of different communities so that we may exercise grace, provide support, and even give ourselves grace as we try to show up and do our work whether we are students, staff, faculty or administrators.

As you finish out the final weeks of your semester please know that the sentiments of the staff at the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion reflected above are shared by our campus leadership. Please reach out if you see someone from our community who may be in need of support during these difficult times as we continue many of our interactions remotely.

As always, SJSU has resources available for our students and for our employees should members of the Spartan community experience emotional distress or trauma. Detailed information on our resources is listed below.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Wong(Lau)

Chief Diversity Officer

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For students:

If you have a mental health emergency and need immediate assistance please contact Counseling and Psychological Services. There is always a staff member available to assist you. Please call 408-924-5910 or visit us at sjsu.edu/wellness. All of our services are being offered online through confidential video or phone sessions.

For after-hours emergencies, please call 911. If you live on campus, please call campus police at 408-924-2222. You may also call our main number 408-924-5910 after hours and press 4 to connect with the after-hours crisis service.

Santa Clara County Suicide & Crisis Line is also available at 855-278-4204 (Toll-free) (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). Or call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). This service is also available 24/7. In addition, you may send a text for help: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365.

International students who need assistance regarding restrictions on travel and other issues can find resources from SJSU’s International Students and Scholars Services.

For employees:

Counseling for Faculty and Staff

Visit LifeMatters® online for more information. Password: SPARTANS

To speak to someone from LifeMatters® confidentially, call 800-367-7474.

In addition, you may send a text for help: Text HOME to 741741. The Crisis Call Center will respond 24/7/365.