03/16/2020
Statement Regarding COVID-19:
The Asian & Pacific Islander Student Association at the University of Delaware (APSA) holds space for all students, staff, faculty, and community members who are and will be impacted by COVID-19. We acknowledge the significant public health concerns and individual risks resulting from the viral outbreak, and we call out the social, institutional, and systemic discrimination experienced by marginalized populations in the USA and globally.
First, we emphasize this country is still stolen land from Indigenous peoples, that the land and natural resources of the University of Delaware belong to the Lenape Peoples.
We condemn all forms of xenophobia and racism experienced by the Asian & Pacific Islander American community, especially now for those of East and Southeast Asian heritage and descent.
We support students with disabilites/disabled students and community members fighting for their health, access to medical care, and human rights. We uplift the elderly and immunocompromised as they struggle to find the necessary health and wellness products and services. We understand the mental and emotional toll of social distancing, isolation, and self-quarantine, especially on students with mental health disorders.
We amplify the voices of First Generation & Low Income students, LGBTQ+ students, international students. We are cognizant of students who cannot go "home" or choose not to go "home" for the safety, health, and peace of mind of their families or themselves. We recognize the stress and hardship upon those with families around the world as they navigate international safety and security.
We defend students and community members facing economic crises, living with food insecurity, experiencing homelessness, and maintaining health in an absence of healthcare. We stand with overexploited workers, transit employees, healthcare and homecare providers, and incarcerated laborers.
We criticize the systems, institutions, and interpersonal power dynamics that create an unjust and inequitable distribution of resources and services. We censure the selfish and capitalistic corporations earning a profit on this pandemic and panic.
Finally, we know that COVID-19 will take lives, and we mourn the possible losses felt by the UD community and across the globe as we face these crises together. We call for solidarity, for empathy, and for kindness within and across communities as we navigate these uncertain weeks ahead. We will be sharing resources via our newsletter regarding COVID-19 and how we can build a better coalition together.
The Asian & Pacific Islander Student Association at the University of Delaware (APSA) holds space for all students, staff, faculty, and community members who are and will be impacted by COVID-19. We acknowledge the significant public health concerns and individual risks resulting from the viral outb...
