Dear Members of the TC Community: 

We are in close, ongoing touch with our medical health colleagues at Columbia University, who are continuously monitoring the spread of the coronavirus and communicating with infectious disease experts locally, nationally, and globally in order to keep all of us well informed and well prepared. (Columbia's Preparedness website remains our most reliable resource for up-to-date information and alerts, as well as safety tips.) 

We place a premium on everyone's well-being at TC, and the information and resources that we provide are intended to help you remain informed of any health risk and, if need be, alerted to take prudent steps as recommended by health professionals and infectious disease experts. 

Understandably but most unfortunately, worry within our extended Columbia University family over the spread of the coronavirus has turned into expressions of unwarranted panic, manifesting itself in biased and hostile behavior toward Chinese, Chinese-American and other Asian students and community members, both on and off our campus. 

That is not who we are. We are an inclusive community, guided by our steadfast commitment both to provide a working, learning and living environment free from discrimination and harassment and to foster a vibrant, nurturing community founded upon the fundamental dignity and worth of all of its members. In that spirit, we all should remind ourselves that we are in the midst of cold and flu season, and that there is no reason to react with alarm toward those many students and other members of our community who customarily wear masks solely in order to protect themselves. 

If you or someone you know has experienced bias, please reach out to Tom Rock, Vice Provost for Student Affairs, at tpr4@tc.columbia.edu or at (212) 678-3083; or Janice Robinson, Vice President for the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs, at jsr167@tc.columbia.edu,  or (212) 678-3732.  For questions or concerns regarding discrimination, please visit this site.

In these stressful times, College and University resources — including health and counseling services on the Morningside campus— remain available to students. Our Student Wellness Website includes resources that are accessible. Employees are encouraged to contact Human Resources about our Employee Assistance Program.

We will continue to provide regular updates on this situation. Please remain mindful as you take good care of yourselves and one another. 

Thomas P. Rock, Vice Provost for Student Affairs

Janice S. Robinson, Vice President for the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Community Affairs