[MIT CSSA Outreach] Official statement from MIT CSSA regarding the "Visualizing Culture" issue

[Lin Han]

Dear CSSA Members and Other Members of the Chinese Community Worldwide,

Earlier this morning, the MIT Chinese Student and Scholar Association (CSSA) had
an in-depth discussion with the MIT administration on the issue of the
Visualizing Cultures website, specifically the "Throwing Off Asia" unit. This
is a scholarly research project, and there is no art exhibition associated with
it. Representatives from the President's Office, the MIT News Office, and the
research group behind the website were all present. The meeting has resulted in
a constructive agreement.

The research group recognized the need to contextualize these sensitive
materials and pledged to continue a dialogue with CSSA and other groups to
address this issue.

Professors Dower and Miyagawa have expressed deep regret over the emotional
distress caused by some of the imagery and are genuinely sorry that the website
has caused pain within the Chinese community.

The agreed resolution is as follows:

1. Official statements from both MIT and Professors Dower and Miyagawa, which
will be posted as a link off the MIT home page shortly and permanently reside
on the MIT News Office website, and distributed to the Chinese community
worldwide.

2. Organize a public forum to facilitate a discussion on the use of sensitive
imagery. The Committee on Campus Race Relations (CCRR) is currently organizing
a panel discussion on visual imagery that is scheduled to take place in early
May (date and location to be determined).

3. The Visualizing Cultures research team will address how it contextualizes
sensitive content by providing appropriate language to prepare users for the
graphic material depicted. The research team is looking to CSSA for feedback
and future dialogue.

As stated previously, CSSA is strongly opposed to any irrational behavior. Any
feedback from individuals on this issue is welcome.

Best regards,

MIT Chinese Student and Scholar Association
Huan Zhang, President
Lin Han, Vice President


Chinese Version:

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