Segal Building

Dear Middlebury Community,

We write today in profound sadness to express our support and solidarity with all members of Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander communities, following recent terrible acts of violence against Asian, Black, Indigenous, and all people of color across our nation, including the brutal killings of eight people in Atlanta on March 16.

We are deeply troubled by these attacks and by any violence based on race, ethnicity, or gender and we acknowledge the injustices experienced by the AAPI community throughout our nation, which have escalated this year during the pandemic.

These acts are unconscionable and run counter to our mission of supporting a diverse and inclusive community, in which we respect and affirm our differences and condemn violence.

We invite anyone experiencing difficulty in processing these events to contact Counseling Services for Vermont students, the WellConnect Student Assistance Program for Middlebury Institute students, and the Employee Assistance Program for faculty and staff.

The Middlebury Institute is hosting a roundtable discussion on local security issues with police chiefs from the Monterey Peninsula on April 22 as part of the Teach-in on Democracy series.

Middlebury College also offers Wisdom Wednesday each week at noon. We invite the entire community to participate in this time for reflection, reading, and music.

You are not alone.

In solidarity,

Laurie Patton

President

Miguel Fernández

Chief Diversity Officer

Jeff Dayton-Johnson

Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Institute