Dear International Student Community:
In several of our recent newsletters, we included information about a scholarship that used language that may have offended you. We are writing today to apologize.
When the Statira Biggs Scholarship was established in 1952, the award criteria described Northeast China – one region of focus for the scholarship – using a historical term that is now obsolete, but for many, calls to mind a very painful period in the country’s history.
Words have an impact. When we encouraged students to apply for the scholarship using this original description, we caused harm to members of our community, and deeply regret doing so.
Although we recognize that no one on the receiving end of hurtful words should have to be the one to point them out, we are grateful to those who had the courage to let us know the pain we caused so that we can resolve the issue as it relates to this scholarship, and take steps to avoid making similar mistakes in the future. So far, we have:
• Worked with staff in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and International Advancement to change the description and criteria of the scholarship to reflect the intent of the original gift to support students from Northeast China, Japan and Korea, and use the new description in all related communications going foward.
In several of our recent newsletters, we included information about a scholarship that used language that may have offended you. We are writing today to apologize.
When the Statira Biggs Scholarship was established in 1952, the award criteria described Northeast China – one region of focus for the scholarship – using a historical term that is now obsolete, but for many, calls to mind a very painful period in the country’s history.
Words have an impact. When we encouraged students to apply for the scholarship using this original description, we caused harm to members of our community, and deeply regret doing so.
Although we recognize that no one on the receiving end of hurtful words should have to be the one to point them out, we are grateful to those who had the courage to let us know the pain we caused so that we can resolve the issue as it relates to this scholarship, and take steps to avoid making similar mistakes in the future. So far, we have:
• Worked with staff in the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships and International Advancement to change the description and criteria of the scholarship to reflect the intent of the original gift to support students from Northeast China, Japan and Korea, and use the new description in all related communications going foward.
