A Message from President Oertli Regarding Campus Safety and Inclusiveness
Dear South Seattle College Students,
I am writing today in response to several instances of racism, discrimination and Islamophobia that have occurred both nationally and in our own Seattle community. South Seattle College is committed to serving a diverse population of students, where racism, hate and other forms of bias are not tolerated. Inclusiveness and acceptance of all walks of life, faiths and backgrounds is paramount to the work we do at South.
I was heartened to hear that many students from South gathered at the clock tower on December 10 to share a moment of silence in honor of Hamza Warsame, a Seattle Central College student who tragically lost his life last weekend. I, like many of you, am closely monitoring the police investigation. As that process takes place I want to let all of our students, and especially our Muslim students, know that we are committed to your safety.
If at any time you feel that your safety is threatened on campus, I encourage you to immediately contact our Campus Security Team at 209-934-0911, or call 911.
Know that South's staff and instructors are also always available to talk about your concerns. We have a full-time counseling staff ready to meet with you in a trusting and secure environment. I've provided names and contact information below.
Counselors:
Stephen Coates-White, Teri Eguchi, Don Howard
To request an appointment call 206-934-6409
Office of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion:
Ricardo Leyva-Puebla, Director, 206-934-6455
John Eklof, Cultural Center, 206-934-7950
Sol Damaris Mendez, Gender Equity Center, 206-934-6831
John Phillips, Veteran Student Center, 206-934-5877
More importantly, if you reach out to any of our staff with your concerns and needs, they can help you get connected to the right resources.
We will also hold an all-campus forum, "Community Conversation: Standing in Solidarity, Creating a Safe Environment" to be held Tuesday, December 15, 1:00-3:00 pm in JMB 140.
Thank you for your time, and I encourage all of you to do your best to make your fellow students feel welcome and safe on our campus. Your safety, alongside the best education we can provide, guides the work we do every day.