Statement on the Shooting in Atlanta: Stop Asian Hate

As faculty and staff at James Madison University, we grieve for and express our deepest condolences to the families of the victims of the shootings in Atlanta on March 16, 2021. Among eight victims, six of them were women of Asian descent. We appreciate that the Biden administration and JMU leadership have expressed serious concern regarding the rising number of Asian-directed hate crimes. However, Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are still vulnerable to racist violence in public spaces, including schools, workplaces, streets, stores, and media. In the strongest terms, we condemn such crimes and hatred. We are disheartened to hear the public debate regarding whether the motive of the suspect was hatred against Asian women or primarily sexual and not racial. This fails to acknowledge that six of the victims were of Asian descent and the long history of imperialistic sexual objectification of Asian women.

Racism and discrimination against Asian and AAPI are not new but have historically been trivialized. The hostility against Asian and AAPI began as early as the 1850s when a large number of Chinese immigrants arrived in the U.S. The California government imposed a foreign miners’ tax on Chinese immigrants to exclude them from the “Gold Rush”. Since then, Asian and AAPI communities have continually experienced discrimination, often expressed via xenophobia, intolerance, and violence. The Page Act of 1875 – directed explicitly at Asian women – and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 are painful reminders of systemic discrimination in this country. The expressions of xenophobia take on many different forms and are sometimes subtle, but with many Asian and AAPI cultures that value tolerance for the sake of communal harmony, their pain often remains invisible.

Discrimination-based violence against Asian and AAPI people has risen significantly since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The politicization of COVID-19 through mocking references to China or Wuhan has further ignited anti-Asian and anti-AAPI sentiment. Even as Asian and AAPI workers made up a large portion of the essential workers on the frontlines, with 1.4 million working during the pandemic according to the New American Economy Research Fund, the former president did not stop referring to COVID-19 as the “China virus” or “Kung flu.” This racial characterization of the virus has further provoked a wave of attacks against Asians and AAPIs. According to data from the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism, hate crimes against Asians in 16 of America’s largest cities increased 149% in 2020, even though the overall hate crimes in 15 of the major U.S. cities declined by 7%. Even more worrisome, recent acts of violence have targeted women and elderly people (Read the media coverages here, here, and here).

As educators, scholars, and employees of JMU, we value the goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion that bring productivity, dignity, and peace into our community. We are committed to supporting all students in becoming enlightened citizens who embrace diversity, condemn any form of hate crime, value racial and ethnic differences, and develop respect for each other. We need to provide an inclusive and supportive environment for our students that will make their time on campus productive and meaningful no matter their nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, or language.

We cannot remain silent. We call upon our Asian and AAPI faculty and staff and our allies to speak up and stand together in solidarity. We also encourage Asian and AAPI students at JMU to speak up. In doing so, we want to assure our Asian and AAPI students that they have strong support from the faculty and staff at JMU. We also want to encourage our Asian and AAPI students to contact any of us at any time for support and to be an advocate for them. We will keep working to create more inclusive and open spaces and platforms for members of Asian, AAPI, and allies to stand together in solidarity.

We demand that JMU administrators and local government officials express stronger condemnation of white supremacy and racism that drives violence targeting Asians and AAPIs and other racial groups and commit to creating tangible change and progress towards being an inclusive community where everyone feels safe, welcome, and has a sense of belonging in our community.

In collaboration with the following faculty and staff

(In Alphabetical Order; Updated on March 29th) Dr. Robert D. Aguirre, Dean of College of Arts and Letters, USA Dr. Melissa Alemán, Professor of Communication Studies, USA Ms. Alaina Ambler, Program Specialist of IIHHS, USA Bodeene Amyot, Digital and Audiovisual Archivist, Libraries, USA Dr. Robin Anderson, Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Dr. Kelly Atwood, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services, Graduate Psychology, USA Dr. Suzanne Baker, Professor of Psychology, USA Dr. Tim Ball, Associate Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Stephanie Baller, Associate Professor of Department of Health Sciences Dr. Karen Barnard-Kubow, Assistant Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Nicole Barnes, Instructor of Communication Studies, USA JoLynne Bartley, Assistant Director of Children & Youth Services, IIHHS, USA Dr. Iccha Basnyat, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Nepal Linda C. Bayne, Libraries Administrative Assistant, Libraries Dr. Luis Betancourt, Professor of Accounting, Cuba Dr. Bruce Berger, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alabama, Northport, Alabama, USA Dr. Aaron Bodle, Associate Professor of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education, USA Deward J. Brantmeier, Professor, Center for Faculty Innovation, USA Dr. Michael Brislen, Adjunct Professor of Philosophy / Religion, USA Dr. Lori Britt, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Andreas Broscheid, Professor and Assistant Director of Center for Faculty Innovation, Germany Ms. Sarah Brown, Graduate Assistant of Biology Dr. Elizabeth Brown, Cluster Coordinator, Associate Professor of General Education & Mathematics, USA Dr. Justin Brown, Associate Professor of Biology BJ Bryson, Professor of Social Work, USA Dr. Peter K. Bsumek, Professor of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Michael Busing, Dean of College of Business, USA Jeff Campbell, Head of Public Services, Libraries, USA Dr. Luke Capizzo, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Giulia Cardillo, Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Italy Dr. Katey Castellano, Professor of English, USA Dr. Taimi Castel, Professor of Justice Studies, USA Liz Chenevey, Psychology Librarian / Assistant Professor, Libraries Sarah Cheverton, Compliance Officer / Assistant Professor of University Programs and CIS/BN, USA Trevor Cockburn, Information Technology Specialist, Libraries, USA Tiffany Cole, Archivist of Libraries, USA Dr. Ailton Coleman, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, USA Dr. Heather Coltman, Senior Vice President at JMU, Zambia Dr. Steven Cresawn, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Marcus Davis, Associate Dean of College of Science and Mathematics, USA Dr. Gianluca De Fazio, Associate Professor of Justice Studies, Italy Dr. Rory DePaolis, Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, USA Mrs. Kathleen Derrick, Program Manager of IIHHS Kiersten Dodson, Night Supervisor, Music Library, USA Dr. Kristina Doubet, Professor of Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Education, USA Dr. Elizabeth Doyle, Lecturer of Biology, USA Dr. Katie Dredger, Associate Professor of Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Education, USA Annick Dupal, Lecturer of Communication Studies, Canada Ms. Cheri Duncan, Professor/Director, Scholarly Resources & Discovery, Libraries, USA Dan Easley, Rose Markerspace Manager, Libraries, USA Dr. Lennis Echterling, Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Ms. Hong Embree, Instructor of Foreign Language Department, China Ms. Shannon Eppert, Graduate Student of Biology, USA Dr. Michele Estes, Professor, LTLE, USA Prof. Peter Eubanks, Associate Professor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, USA Dr. Matthew Ezzell, Associate Professor / Sociology Program Coordinator of Sociology & Anthropology, USA Dr. Allison Fagan, Associate Professor and Coordinator of Latin American, Latinx, and Caribbean Studies minor, USA Dr. Jody Fagan, Professor of Libraries, USA Dr. Eric Fife, Professor of Communication Studies, USA Mariagrazia Fiorello, Instructor of Foreign Language Department, Italy Dr. Frances Flannery, Professor of Religion, USA Dr. Brian Flota, Humanities Librarian / Associate Professor of Libraries, USA Dr. Julia D. Fox, Office Manager of Biology Administration Office, USA Rebecca French, Head of Metadata Analysis & Operations and Assistant Professor of Libraries Dianne Fulk, Administrative Assistant / Building Coordinator of Honors College, Canada Ms. Rachel Gagliardi, Program Coordinator of IIHHS, USA Ms. Malia Gardner, Graduate Student at JMU, Harrisonburg, VA., USA Dr. Diana Galarreta-Aima, Assistant Professor of Foreign Language Department, Peru Dr. H. Gelfand, Associate Professor of Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, USA Dr. Pam Gibson, Professor of Psychology/Cleveland 202, USA Kelly Giles, Associate Professor of Libraries, USA Dr. Tammy Gilligan, Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Dr. Mollie Godfrey, Associate Professor of English, AAAD, USA Kuanyi Goodman, E-book Specialist, Libraries, Taiwan Dr. Jeffrey Goodman, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, USA Dr. Emily Gravett, Assistant Director and Assistant Professor of Center for Faculty Innovation and Philosophy & Religion Ms. Adrienne Griggs, Classified Staff of IIHHS, USA Dr. Heather Griscom, Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Suzanne Grossman, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences, USA Kathy Guisewit, Adjunct Professor of IIHHS, USA Dr. Chengqi Guo, Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems & Business Analytics, China Dr. Susan Halsell, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Seung Han, Professor of Foreign Language, USA Dr. Robert Harmison, Professor / Director of Sport Psychology, Graduate Psychology / JMU Athletics, USA Dr. Joseph Harsh, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Mrs. Lisa Hartman, Desk Manager Makery Spaces of Carrier Library, Makery Spaces, USA Dr. Kim Hartzler-Weakley, Associate Director of Research and Public Health of IIHHS, USA Dr. Brooks Hefner, Professor of English, USA Mr. Kevin Hegg, A/P Faculty of Libraries, USA Dr. James Herrick, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Michelle Hesse, Assistant Professor of Health Professions Dr. Corey Hickerson, Professor of Communication Studies, USA Ms. Laura Yu Hickerson, Associate Director for Employer Relations of University Career Center, USA Dr. Kathryn Hobson, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Steve W. Holloway, Associate Professor, Libraries, USA Dr. Tiffany Hornsby, Assistant Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Karyn Horridge, Admin of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Jeanne Horst, Associate Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Dr. Rebecca Howes-Mischel, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Dr. Yongguang Hu, Associate Professor, History, China Dr. Di Hu, Assistant Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Dr. John Hulsey, Associate Professor of Political Science, USA Dr. Oliver Hyman, Lecturer of Biology, USA Dr. Krisztina Jakobsen, Associate Professor of Psychology, USA Dr. Casonya Johnson, Professor and Academic Unit Head, Biology, USA Dr. Shin Ji Kang, Associate Professor & ELED Program Coordinator, Early, Elementary, & Reading Education, Korea Dr. Kara Kavanagh, Associate Professor of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education Ms. Elaine Kaye, Associate Professor of Libraries Ms. Jennifer Keach, Coordinator of Organizational Learning / Professor, Libraries Dr. Christina Kilby, Assistant Professor of Philosophy & Religion, USA Ms. Ji Kim, Community Member, Rockingham, VA, South Korea Dr. Tony Kim, Assistant Professor of Hart School, South Korea Dr. Yeonsoo Kim, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, South Korea Sandra Kinsey, Administrative Assistant of Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Education, USA Michael Klein, Associate Professor of WRTC, USA Ms. Karina Kline-Gabel, Lecturer / DEI Liaison of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures/ CAL DEI Liaison, USA / Colombia Heritage Dr. Bob Kolvoord, Professor and Dean, College of Integrated Science and Engineering, USA Dr. Katya Koubek, Associate Professor & TESOL Coordinator of Educational Foundations and Exceptionalities, USA Mr. Jonathan Kratz, Director of International Student & Scholar Services at CGE, USA Dr. Lars Kristiansen, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Norway Dr. Kristopher Kubow, Assistant Professor of Biology Dr. Jennifer Lang-Rigal, Associate Professor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, USA Cheryl Lantz, Financial Services Specialist, Libraries, USA Ms. Jessica Lantz,Instructional Designer / Assistant Professor, Libraries, USA Thomas Lavenir, Assistant Director of International Student Scholar Services at CGE, France Dr. C.K. Lee, Assistant Professor of Management, Republic of Korea Dr. Amy Lewis, Assistant Professor of School of Music, USA Dr. Mark Lewis, Associate Professor of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education Pam Li, Assistant Professor of Hart School Mr. Eric Lin, Vice President of Finance - Executive Committee of OCA Asian Pacific American Advocates - National, China Dr. Juhong Christie Liu, Associate Professor, Sr. Instructional Designer & Head of Online Learning, Libraries / Learning Innovations & Design/Online Learning, China Dr. Wilson Liu, Professor of Finance and Business Law, China Dr. Patrice Ludwig, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Paul Mabrey III, Communication Center Coordinator of Learning Centers, USA Ms. Alyssa Maitner, Community Member, Chesterfield, VA, USA Dr. Bernice Marcopulos, Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Mr. Neil Marrin, Lecturer of Hart School, USA Ms. Mallory Marsh, Instructor of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Andrea Martinez Gonzalez, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, Colombia Lee Mayfield, Lecturer, Communication Studies, USA Dr. Sharon R. Mazzarella, Professor of Communication Studies, USA Dr. Kristien McCleary, Associate Professor of History, USA Ms. Molly McGillis, Coordinator of International Student and Scholar Services at CGE, USA Dr. Lisa McGuire, Professor / Academic Unit Head of Social Work, USA Dr. Cathy McKay, Assistant Professor of Kinesiology, USA Dr. Shana Meganck, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies Dr. Cara Meixner, Professor / Director of Graduate Psychology / Center for Faculty Innovation, USA Ms. Julia Merkel, Associate Professor of Libraries, USA Diana Meza, Professor of Learning Technology & Leadership Education, Columbia Venus Miller, Associate Director of Staff and Student Development of Student Affairs, University Career Center, USA Kelly Miller-Martin, Director of Facilities Operations of Libraries Katie Mitchell, Director of Training and Fidelity of SexEdVA/Appalachian Replication Project, USA Dr. Rudy M. Molina Jr. Vice Provost, USA Laura Montanez, Facilities Operations Coordinator, Libraries, USA Dr. Yenisei, Motes de Oca, Assistant Professor of Foreign Language Department, México/USA Dr. Fawn-Amber Montoya, Professor of History, USA Kate Morris, Assistant Professor, Head of Special Collections of Libraries, USA Mr. Seth Moyers, Scientific Computing Systems Administrator of College of Science & Mathematics, USA Besi Muhonja, Professor of English Dr. Margaret Mulrooney, Associate Vice Provost and Professor of History, University Programs Caylin Murray, Genetics Lab Coordinator and Instructor of Biology, USA Dr. C. Leigh Nelson, Professor of Communication Studies, USA Ms. Misty Newman, Associate Director of Community Service-Learning, USA Jaclyn Nickel, Education Coordinator, VDOE Region 5 TTAC, USA Dr. Bethany Nowviskie, Dean of Libraries and Professor of English, USA Dr. Bayo Ogundipe, Interim Department Head / Associate Professor of Engineering Dr. William O’Meara, Professor of Philosophy and Religion, USA Mrs. Ruth O’Rourke, Lecturer of Hart School, USA Dr. Katherine Ott Walter, Associate Professor of Health Sciences, USA Dr. Tara Parsons, Associate Professor of Justice Studies, USA Dr. Joshua Pate, Associate Professor of Hart School, USA Scott Paulson, Associate Professor of IdLS, USA Ms. Janina Peachey, Administrative Assistant of Vice Provost for Faculty & Curriculum, USA Dr. Jennifer PeeksMease, Associate Professor of Communication Studies, USA Nora Perez, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA Mr. Andy Perrine, Associate Vice President of Communications & Marketing, USA Ms. Taylor Phillips, Junior of Justice Studies, USA Allie-Cate Phillips, Recruitment Specialist of IIHHS Mrs. Tassie Pippert, Lecturer of Hart School, USA Dr. Sephany Plecker, Director, Language Resource Center of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, USA Dr. Linda Plitt Donaldson, Associate Dean of CHBS, USA Dr. Rita Poteyeva, Associate Professor of Justice Studies Dr. Samantha Prins, Professor of Mathematics and Statistics, New Zealand Ms. Jennifer Rea, Operations Coordinator, IIHHS, USA Dr. Steven Reich, Professor of History, USA Dr. Kelsey Reider, Assistant Professor of Biology Gina Reinhardt, Adjunct Faculty of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Germany Dr. Tobias Reynolds-Tylus, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies, USA Elizabeth Richardson, Faculty of Health Professions, USA Dr. Terrie Rife, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Heather Roberts, Building Coordinator of Carrier Library of Libraries Dr. Christine Robinson, Professor of Justice Studies, USA Dr. Christopher Rose, Professor of Biology, Canada Dr. David Owusu-Ansah, Associate Provost for Diversity / Executive Director for Faculty Access & Inclusion Dr. Ayasakanta Rout, Professor, Graduate Program Director of Audiology, Communication Sciences and Disorders (CSD), India Ms. Tiffany Runion, Program Administrator of Center for Faculty Innovation, USA Mr. Giuseppe Sanfilippo, Adjunct faculty of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Italy Ms. Lara Sapp, Health Sciences Librarians, Associate Professor of Libraries, USA Mrs. Rachel Saum, Building Coordinator, College of Education Dean's Office Dr. Mike Saunders, Professor, Kinesiology, Canada Dr. Heather Scheuerman, Associate Professor of Justice Studies Dr. Mikaela Schmitt-Harsh, Associate Professor of IdLS Eric Schmucker, Program Director of IIHHS, USA Shonta Sellers, Director of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Initiative, Professional & Continuing Education, USA Mr. Pongracz Sennyey, Associate Dean, Libraries, Brazil Ms. Kathleen Sensabuagh, Assistant Director of CGE, USA Kristi Shackelford, Chief Communication Officer of Academic Affairs, USA Yasmeen Shorish, Associate Professor, Libraries, USA Dr. Kristen Shrewsbury, English Language Learner Services Coordinator of Learning Centers, USA Kristen Shuyler, Director, Communications and Outreach, Assistant Professor of Libraries, USA Dr. Manisha Singal, Educator at Virginia Tech Dr. Hannah Sions, Assistant Professor of Art Education Dr. Elizabeth Skidmore Edwards, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, USA Dr. Kim Slekar, Associate Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Julie Solometo, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, USA Dr. Hui Sono, Academic Unit Head of Finance and Business Law, China Mr. Jason Song, Community Member, Harrisonburg, VA., South Korea Dr. A. Renee Staton, Professor of Graduate Psychology, USA Dr. Wren Stevens, Interim Associate Dean of CVPA, USA Dr. Trevor Stokes, Alvin V. Baird Centennial Chair in Psychology of Graduate Psychology, Australia Dr. Jared Stoltzfus, Associate Professor of School of Theatre and Dance,USA Dr. John Stone, Professor Emeritus of Communication Studies, USA Andrew Strack, Department Head of Libraries, USA Brian Sullivan, Education Librarian, Associate Professor of Libraries Dr.. Pamela Sullivan, Professor, EERE, USA Mr. Qiang Sun, Adjunct Instructor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures Professor Christiane Szeps-Ralin, Full Professor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, France Dr. Janna Taft Young, Assistant Professor of Psychology, USA Dr. Kimiko Tanaka, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, Japan Ashley Taylor Jaffee, Association Professor/ Chair, College of Education Diversity Council of Middle, Secondary, & Mathematics Education, College of Education, USA Ms. Airelle Templin, Community Member, Harrisonburg, VA, USA Dr. Emma Thacker, Assistant Professor of Early, Elementary, and Reading Education, USA Dr. Linda Thomas, Professor / Academic Unit Head of School of Integrated Sciences, USA Ms. Ronni Thomas, Clinical Lecturer of Nursing, USA Dr. Mary Thompson, Associate Professor of English / Women's Gender and Sexuality Studies, USA Liz Thompson, Associate Professor of Libraries, USA Dr. Megan Tracy, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology Mr. Jared Tschohl, Education Consultant of Shenandoah Valley Child Development Clinic, USA Dr. Elizabeth Skidmore Edwards, Associate Professor of Kinesiology, USA Dr. Julie Solometo, Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology, USA Dr. Bisi Velayudhan, Assistant Professor, Biology, India Ms. Mary Walala, Staff of IIHHS, Tanzania Ms. Lindsey Walker, Partner and Program Manager of the Gus Bus at IIHHS, USA Ms. Colleen Waller, Career Advisor of University Career Center, USA Dr. Felix Wang, Senior Associate Executive Director of CGE Dr. Ping Wang, Associate Professor of CIS/BSAN, China Ms. Yunju Wang, Instructor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures Stephanie Wasta, Professor of EFEX, USA Dr. Case Watkins, Assistant Professor of Justice Studies, USA Dr. Angela Webb, Associate Professor of Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Education, USA Malia Wiley, Humanities Librarian, Associate Professor of Libraries Nicole Wilson, Associate Professor of Libraries, USA Ms. Emily Wishon, Outreach Coordinator, Brain Injury Connections of the Shenandoah Valley, USA Dr. Chang Wan Woo, Associate Professor, Communication Studies, Korea Dr. Roshna Wunderlich, Professor of Biology, USA Dr. Kristin Wylie, Associate Professor of Political Science, USA Dr. Holly Yanacek, Assistant Professor of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures, USA Dr. Yi Edward Yang, Professor, Political Science, China Dr. Hyong Yeom, Professor of Social Work, South Korea Dr. Emily Zane, Assistant Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders, USA Dr. Weiwei Zhang, Assistant Professor of Finance and Business Law, China