Statement on violent attacks in Georgia

I am angered, and alarmed, about the rise in violent hate crimes and increasing attacks on our Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander sisters and brothers, especially over the last year. Our college community includes members of this community and many of us know them as colleagues, friends and students, so this brings it, particularly, home to us as a community. The horrific events that occurred in Acworth, Georgia, lead to increasing fear, uncertainty and anger. 
 
For members of our community who are experiencing distress over these and previous occurrences of hate and violence, I encourage hour to reach out to the office of Employee Assistance. The office can be reached at https://eap.msu.edu/contact, by phone at 517.355.4506 and email at eap@msu.edu. Students access services at Counseling & Psychiatric Services at https://caps.msu.edu/.
 
Once again, this is a call for us as individuals, and as a college, to continue to find ways to increase our diversity, equity, inclusion and, perhaps more importantly, belonging. We are moving forward with more formal ways of promoting DEI and issues within the college. We are also asking, as a part of budget a requires for the position of associate dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging. Our sister colleges each have such a position and it will be important, not only as we do this work in our college, but to also participate in these activities in the university and in the community, at large.
 
Yours in Spartan Spirit,
 
Randolph F. R. Rasch, PhD, RN, FNP, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
(He/Him/His)
Dean and Professor
College of Nursing
Michigan State University
1355 Bogue Street, A216LS
East Lansing, MI 48824