cpsylist: Call to Action and Solidarity

[Student Advocacy & Leadership]

Dear CPSY Community,


The SALA leadership and membership meeting attendees have decided to refrain from patronizing or in any way participating in the promotion of a local yoga studio, Sweaty Ganesh Yoga, due to the negative impact of its offensive name and branding on our students. Referring to the Hindu deity Ganesha as sweaty along with use of Ganesha's likeness as a logo causes insult to religious practitioners and many Asian/Asian American individuals. In the wake of recent shootings of three Indian Americans, we have a greater need than ever to do what we can to ensure a sense of belonging, understanding, and safety within our own community. Our commitment to the ethics of our profession dictates that we avoid intentional or unintentional forms of discrimination on the basis of culture, ethnicity, and religion. We believe that one small way to work towards  this goal is by not attending or hosting programs or services at this establishment which inherently excludes comfortable participation by all.


Previous attempts to discuss our concerns with this business and change our norms pertaining to patronizing the establishment have been made, making us feel confident in our decision to boycott.  We hope that you will join us in taking this step in order to create an environment of inclusion, sensitivity, and respect. While we often do not have control over harmful societal influences, we can be mindful of the power we hold in many day-to-day decisions which can influence our microsystem positively or negatively. We appreciate efforts to encourage us to reflect on our personal and professional decisions in a way that moves us closer toward our values as counseling psychologists.  Thank you for helping us build a caring and inclusive CPSY community.


Sincerely,


Student Advocacy Leadership Association

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