The Columbia Global Centers network stands in solidarity with the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community in the wake of recent hate incidents and tragic violence.
The Columbia Global Centers have affirmed the University's commitment to a safe and inclusive environment for all community members, and have taken part in the University-wide efforts to continue to offer resources and support that enable us to develop actionable solutions to prevent future bigotry, hate, and discrimination.
In response to the growing call to action to support anti-racism movement and to foster an inclusive community, the following thematic discussion series, titled 'Stand in Solidarity: Combating Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia', is designed to review the rising violence against the Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community, and examine the ongoing history of race discrimination. The Series aims to amplify anti-racism voices and help them, and all of us, to overcome the long-standing social injustice and ensure common prosperity and its long-term growth.
Webinar Highlights & Full Recordings
Combating Anti-Asian Hate and Violence
This panel discussion invited a terrific lineup of speakers to share their insights on the rising anti-Asian violence, and explore actionable solutions that prevent future bigotry, hate, and discrimination.
Featuring remarks and discussion with (in alphabetical order):
- Qin Gao, Professor of Social Policy and Social Work at Columbia University School of Social Work and Director of Columbia University’s China Center for Social Policy
- Joseph Defraine Greenwell, Vice President for Student Affairs at Office of University Life, Columbia University
- Tiffany J. Huang, PhD Candidate in the Department of Sociology at Columbia University
- Malo Hutson, Associate Professor of Urban Planning at Columbia GSAPP
- Van C. Tran, Associate Professor of Sociology at the Graduate Center, City University of New York
- Weiping Wu, Professor of Urban Planning at Columbia GSAPP and Director of the M.S. Urban Planning program
Alumni of Color: Hong Yen Chang 1886
In response to the growing call to action to combat anti-Asian racism, this special Alumni of Color virtual event invited alumni and speakers to share insights about the current issues and celebrate the life and legacy of Hong Yen Chang 1886, the first Chinese graduate of Columbia Law School and the first Chinese American admitted to practice law in the United States.
Featuring remarks and Q&A with (in alphabetical order):
- Gabriel “Jack” Chin, Edward L. Barrett Jr. Chair of Law, Martin Luther King, Jr. Professor of Law, and Director of Clinical Legal Education, University of California, Davis, School of Law
- Rachelle Chong, Principal of Law Offices of Rachelle Chong and descendent of Hong Yen Chang
- Wei Christianson ’89, CEO of China and Co-CEO of Asia Pacific, Morgan Stanley
- Benjamin L. Liebman, Robert L. Lieff Professor of Law, Director of the Hong Yen Chang Center for Chinese Legal Studies and Director of the Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law, Columbia Law School
- Timothy A. Steinert ’89, Company Secretary and Senior Advisor, Alibaba Group
- Annie Xie ’21
The Future Repeats Itself: Historical Roots of Anti-Chinese Animus in the time of COVID
This event, hosted by the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society, was honored to have leading scholars from Columbia University and Australian National University to share themes related to New York City and other global metropolises; pandemic urbanism; race, climate, and housing; and utopian/dystopian imaginaries.
Featuring keynote lecture and discussion with (in alphabetical order):
- Rishi Goyal, Director of Medicine, Literature and Society at Columbia University
- Arden Hegele, Medical Humanities Fellow and literary scholar at Columbia University
- Ari Heinrich, Professor of Chinese Literature and Media at the Australian National University
- Eugenia Lean, Professor of Chinese History, East Asian Languages and Cultures Department at Columbia University, Director of Weatherhead East Asian Institute
- Lydia Liu, Wun Tsun Tam Professor in the Humanities and Director of the Institute for Comparative Literature and Society at Columbia University
Preparing International Students for Race Relations in the U.S.
This panel discussion invited Columbia alumni and education experts of international schools in China and the U.S. to share their insights on the rising anti-Asian violence and explore actions to break down barriers.
Featuring remarks and discussion with (in alphabetical order):
- Angela Curry, Centre Principal of AP at RDFZ-ICC Beijing
- Lacey Long, SEAS'21
- Emerson R. Miller, Director of International Outreach, Beijing 101 High School, International Department
- Justin Patch, Assistant Professor of Music, Vassar College
Advancing Nursing Practice to Achieve Global Health Equity: What We Learn from Pandemics
At this webinar on June 9, Jennifer Dohrn commented on Anti-Asian racism and stressed the importance of global exchange and mutual learning.
Professor Dohrn is the Associate Professor and Assistant Dean of the Office of Global Initiatives and its PAHO/WHO Collaborating Center for Advanced Practice Nursing at Columbia University School of Nursing.
Columbia University Asian Faculty Association Leadership Series: Breaking Through the Bamboo Ceiling
The inaugural webinar of Columbia University Asian Faculty Association (CUAFA)'s leadership series, "Breaking Through the Bamboo Ceiling: Asian Americans as Leaders in U.S. Academia", focused on understanding the scope and root causes of the invisible barriers that impede Asian Americans from career advancement and opportunities. Esteemed scholars from Columbia University, Cornell University, University of Washington, and the Forsyth Institute shared their own experiences, what they have learned from their career paths, and explored ways Asian Americans can take to overcome challenges in the workplace.
Open Science: Sino-US Collaboration in an Age of Surveillance
Fissures in US-China relations remain entrenched, with no clear path to mending political differences in sight. Concerns within the US about Chinese espionage have come to a head, and, despite the change in US administrations at the beginning of 2021, lawmakers and the federal government continue to pursue and actively enforce measures to confront China and Chinese influence. Two policies, in particular, the China Initiative and the US Innovation and Competition Act (formerly the Endless Frontier Act), have drawn the ire of academics who note dire consequences for scientific and academic collaboration being undertaken in good faith–both present and future–and report a climate of fear and racial profiling.
In an interdisciplinary discussion on December 2 titled “Open Science: Sino-US Collaboration in an Age of Surveillance,” panelists drew from personal experience and professional expertise, from the fields of science, law, and journalism, to consider the implications of these policies.