USC Architecture Students, Faculty and Staff,

Our USC Architecture community stands shoulder to shoulder with our Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) community in solidarity for social, racial, and ethnic equity; for cross-cultural understanding; and against anti-APIDA violence. We deplore the violent attacks and verbal assaults perpetrated against any human being, especially the increased, targeted nature of these recent attacks against the APIDA community in our local neighborhoods and nationwide. The history of inclusion, and exclusion, of racial and ethnic minorities and immigrants in the American story and in the aspirational logic of our democracy is one of an increased movement towards more justice and more inclusion, and we must make it remain so.

In the 100-year history of our School, our community has seen extraordinary benefits of exceptional students, faculty, staff and supporters from all over the globe, including APIDA communities. As Citizen Architects, it is our responsibility to be inclusive, and, at critical moments like this, demonstrate our commitment to dignity and equity.  

Professor Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to be an Anti-Racist, reminds us that being an anti-racist is an active process of learning and of continuous practice. Our first in a series of School of Architecture anti-racism workshops is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30 at 4:00 p.m. Building an Anti-Racist Culture in the School of Architecture will provide preliminary education, tactics, and tools for recognizing and confronting microaggressions and discrimination. This workshop was requested by our students after the events of last summer and is a critical part of our ongoing diversity, equity and inclusion efforts within the School. The workshop is mandatory for all faculty in the School and recommended for students and staff. We hope everyone who is available will attend this session.

Additional University resources are available to support you as well. Let’s continue to look out for and take care of each other. 

• Students, staff, and faculty can report incidents of bias and discrimination here.
• Students can seek support from USC Student Health, Counseling and Mental Health Services, Office of International Services, Asian Pacific American Student Services and any of the Student Equity and Inclusion Program centers.
• Faculty and staff can seek support from the Center for Work and Family Life.

Milton S. F. Curry

Dean, Della & Harry MacDonald Dean's Chair

USC School of Architecture

Esther Margulies

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Liaison

USC School of Architecture