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President Coker pledges support for the Asian community

The following is a letter, titled “Support & Advocacy for the Asian Community,” emailed March 19, 2021 to the campus community from Maryville College President Dr. Bryan F. Coker regarding the Atlanta shootings that occurred on March 16.

Dear MC Community Members,

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation has experienced an increase in anti-Asian rhetoric and hate, and just this week in Atlanta, six Asian women and two other individuals were killed in crimes which remain under investigation. In times such as this, it is imperative for the College to reiterate our support for persons of all races, ethnicities, and identities. We must be unabashedly clear and bold in our support and advocacy, which is consistent with our mission, commitments, and history.

Maryville College stands with our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members, including students, faculty, staff, and alumni, and we vehemently condemn all acts of anti-Asian hate. We are here for you, and we deeply appreciate your many contributions to the Maryville College community. Community members in need of support are encouraged to seek help – students are reminded of the Counseling Center’s resources, and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is available to faculty and staff.

Sincerely,

Bryan F. Coker, Ph.D.
President

Maryville College is a nationally-ranked institution of higher learning and one of America’s oldest colleges. For more than 200 years we’ve educated students to be giving citizens and gifted leaders, to study everything, so that they are prepared for anything — to address any problem, engage with any audience and launch successful careers right away. Located in Maryville, Tennessee, between the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the city of Knoxville, Maryville College offers nearly 1,200  students from around the world both the beauty of a rural setting and the advantages of an urban center, as well as more than 60 majors, seven pre-professional programs and career preparation from their first day on campus to their last. Today, our 10,000 alumni are living life strong of mind and brave of heart and are prepared, in the words of our Presbyterian founder, to “do good on the largest possible scale.”