“Go back to China” were the words addressed to an unnamed Winthrop professor this semester as discrimination against Asians across the U.S. rises.
A Winthrop professor recently broke their silence about repeated harassment and discrimination by a student. According to a Winthrop University Police Department report, handwritten messages were delivered to the professor’s personal office that consisted of racist nicknames for COVID-19 and derogatory comments regarding the professor’s ethnicity, including the words, “Go back to China.”
Although campus police have been made aware of the repeated harassment, no further action has been taken. The verbal assault was addressed by a member of the Winthrop University Board of Trustees who expressed his disappointment in the situation and proposed a resolution of solidarity with Asian Pacific Americans at the next faculty meeting.
“A particular faculty member talked about having racist jokes posted on his office door and even being confronted by a student in a verbal assault. The student said to him that he could go back to China. Words matter, the tone that he said that in matters. It’s important right now that Asian American and Pacific Islander faculty and staff are being supported by the institution. A lot of conversations have already taken place between campus police, and members of the Asian American Pacific Islander faculty affinity group. And for my own part, I’ll be introducing a resolution at the next faculty conference to express our support for them” said Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees and Professor of Political Science Adolphus Belk.
This event is part of an even larger pattern of discrimination consistent with xenophobia towards Asian Americans triggered by COVID-19 and fueled by political rhetoric blaming China for the virus. Former President Donald Trump referred to COVID-19 as the “Wuhan virus” and the “Chinese virus” on Twitter despite widespread public condemnation of the racist terms.
China has repeatedly been a target of negative press since the outbreak of COVID-19 in the United States. Although The Federal Bureau of Investigation has not yet released their latest hate crime statistics in 2020, a new study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism found a dramatic increase in hate crimes targeting Asians in America’s largest cities.
“Anti-Asian hate crime in 16 of America’s largest cities increased 149% in 2020 according to an analysis of official preliminary police data by the Center for the Study of Hate & Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino, with the first spike occurring in March and April amidst a rise in COVID cases and negative stereotyping of Asians relating to the pandemic,” according to the study.
“More than one year ago, the COVID pandemic began to significantly impact the world. We all recall the shutdown in the US and have continued to struggle with the many uncertainties since that time. One of the most unfortunate products of the pandemic has been the escalating rhetoric and violence that dehumanizes the Asians and Asian-Americans among and around us. I am disappointed that anti-Asian behavior has been reported on our campus,” wrote Dr. Takita Felder Sumter in an email sent to students in the College of Arts and Sciences on April 5.
“The College of Arts & Sciences joins the many voices who have already eloquently stated their support of our AAPI students, faculty, and staff. We care about their safety and denounce systems of exclusion that have gone unacknowledged in America.”
“I’m more scared for other people than myself. I know that some people are, but I’m personally not afraid of getting attacked or anything. If it was my family or my friends, I would be more scared for them,” said Jacob Chan, a junior business administration major.
“I think what makes some people afraid of Asian people is mostly fear and just not knowing who we are.”
The university is striving to cultivate a campus environment that is free from xenophobia.
“At Winthrop, we value diversity and all that the word represents. Diversity is one of Winthrop’s five core values, along with excellence, service, community and leadership. Our commitment to, and appreciation for, diversity includes respecting the diversity of all cultures,” wrote Interim President George Hynd in an email sent to the Winthrop community on March 23.
“Winthrop is proud to be a ‘home away from home’ for Asians, Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and other people of color.”
For any students who have been impacted by racism or xenophobia, please contact Counseling Services at 323-2206.
Image courtesy of Stop AAPI (Asian American/Pacific Islander) Hate.
