Emotion

[miss_ljv]

The U has been sending updates as needed regarding travel and precautions regarding Coronavirus (referred to as COVID-19). In this most recent email, after reporting that travel abroad programs to South Korea and China are suspended through the summer, the U also provided links and additional suggestions, reminding the community that there have been no suspected cases in Minnesota.

At the end of the email, there was the following text:

"We recognize this is a stressful situation for many of you. As we move forward with our public health response, please remember that viruses do not discriminate and neither should we as a campus community. Though we have no confirmed cases on our campuses, many are still affected by COVID-19 in very personal ways. Be compassionate to those affected. Do not let fear lead to inappropriate assumptions."

Knowing what I know of how communications are developed and drawn up, I think the Unversity did a decent job here just bringing the humanity piece into the picture, and it made me feel a lot of feelings. Especially having been exposed to some really shitty, insidiously (and in some cases, overtly) racist garbage opinions/statements by people who work at the University. I feel protective of our students and marginalized people in general, and hate the continuous discrimination of various Asian populations here, COVID-19 or not.

I'm a bit in my feelings today.

Comments

[kurikuribebi]

That's a great way to end an email. Such an eloquent way of saying "Don't be an a$$ just because you are scared."

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

Right?? Our President has sent several emails updating us on the various plans since, and she always finds a way to basically say just that.

[ragnarok-08.livejournal.com]

They definitely did a decent job there at the end of the email.

[brittdreams.livejournal.com]

That is a fantastic email. If necessarily, I hope we get one like that at my job.

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

I hope so too! I don't want students to ever feel alienated.

[meringues.livejournal.com]

This is an excellent email, though it saddens me they even needed to write out something like this to begin with...

[miss-ljv.livejournal.com]

SAME. At least it's "out" there - like, "Hi racists I see you lurking." vs when we were kids and it was "I don't see color! Racism ended in the 60's!"