Sent on March 22, 2020
To our SHRS Community:
Our country is experiencing a dramatic increase in anti-Asian racism and violence. Senseless acts of violence in the Asian and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities should never be tolerated. The University of Pittsburgh School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS) will always stand against any and all forms of hatred, bigotry and racism.
Our Pitt SHRS community remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting one another and the inclusion of all faculty, staff and students. We must appreciate our differences and the diversity of talents among our programs and departments. We strive towards building a community of allies and advancing a culture of humility and respect for all members of our society, including our Asian and AAPI communities.
For those members of our Asian and AAPI communities that may be experiencing acts of discrimination and racism, please know that our institution and school are here to support you. Pitt’s Office for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is coordinating a community-sourced directory of resources to support our collective antiracism efforts. If you, or anyone you know, is in need of support, or if you have personally witnessed or experienced harassment, please consider the following resources available to all members of our Pitt community:
- First and foremost, If you are in a life-threatening situation and in need of immediate emergency services, please contact Pitt Police at 412-624-2121.
- If you would like to discuss a specific incident with University officials, please contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX at 412-684-7860.
- It is everyone’s responsibility to report bias incidents in order to maintain a safe campus climate. Be sure to complete a report of bias incident promptly. This provides the reporter with access to appropriate support and referral services.
- If you are a student, faculty or staff member and need assistance on how to report incidents of bias and discrimination or to learn more about the University’s policies for addressing harassment, please contact katiepope@pitt.edu.
- If you have been impacted by an act of discrimination and need to speak confidentially with a counselor, please consider reaching out to these confidential counseling resources for immediate assistance.
Sincerely,
Bernard Rousseau, PhD, MMHC, CCC-SLP, ASHA Fellow
Associate Dean for Equity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Professor and Chair
Department of Communication Science and Disorders
University of Pittsburgh