A Statement From the ACCTA

Dear Dr. Constantine,

We, the members of the Association of Counseling Center Training Agencies, are writing to express our support for you in the wake of this racist attack both on you as a person and on the work you do in the area of diversity. We are both saddened and angered by what has occurred and hope you are personally safe. We have watched with appreciation the response by your community at Columbia and nationally to this attack and threat. We can also imagine how personally vulnerable you can feel after such an attack and offer our support and assistance to you and those at Columbia impacted by this outrage.

As one of the first Diversity Scholarship recipients from ACCTA, we are sure you are aware that ACCTA has a long history of fighting racism and the impact of oppression in the profession and in the community. It is horrifying to see such an attack on someone so active in that fight and so involved in challenging the racism and oppression that is still so unfortunately prevalent. We want to stand with you in response to this event and with others nationally who have experienced or continue to experience such attacks. While we would like it not to, hate still exists and it is only through the efforts of persons like you who are so actively involved in the area of multiculturalism that we can continue to educate students and the public about the impact of racism and prejudice.

We deplore what has happened to you personally and to your colleagues and students. No one should have to deal with this type of aggression in their personal and/or professional life. Unfortunately it continues on campuses and in our communities. We want to stand with you and your colleagues as you respond to this and hope you can call on us to assist in any way that would be of benefit. ACCTA appreciates supports and encourages your ongoing work and commitment to multiculturalism. As for our part, our members, representing 159 colleges and universities across the country, will continue to confront racism and oppression as part of our professional responsibility, encourage others to stand firm in confronting racism and oppression where it rears its ugly head and join with you and our colleagues in psychology to create a world that celebrates all the diversity among us.