H漫画

President's Corner is a column from H漫画 President Deep Saini.

Dear Dal Community,

It has been close to one month since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began. We have witnessed inspiring stories of Ukrainian resilience and resistance alongside tragedy, suffering and loss. The world鈥檚 attention is deeply attuned to something it all too often neglects: the plight of those living under the shroud of war and global conflict.

Many have asked me and other leaders at Dal what more we can do to help. Of course, our first concern is those students and members of our Dal community directly affected by these events. H漫画 currently hosts seven students from Ukraine. Our team at the International Centre has connected with each of them personally to offer support and to make sure any urgent needs are addressed. We鈥檝e also worked with our deans to identify any Ukrainian connections through our research community where there may be a need for support.

H漫画 has a proud history of support for refugees and those impacted by global conflict, including but not limited to our sponsorship of students through the Student Refugee Program of the World University Service of Canada (WUSC). It is easy to feel powerless in the face of international events such as the current conflict, but if we look to our mission as an educational institution, there are small but significant things we can do. Some of them are symbolic 鈥� like the raising of the Ukrainian flag on our campuses, in alignment with many other institutions across the world. Others are more directly informed by the important role we serve in our world: to be a place of inclusion and welcomeness, to spark dialogue and grow shared understandings, and to be there for people who need help.

Here's a summary of a few of the things we have underway in all these areas.

Support for students and scholars from Ukraine

• H漫画 is waiving application fees and offering increased flexibility with respect to payment deadlines and options. We will also expedite the processing of applications from students from Ukraine and surrounding countries.
  • Special consideration for Ukrainian students will be made in our scholarship/financial aid pool alongside a percentage of awards designated to Ukrainian students at risk.
• H漫画 is a member of Scholars at Risk, an international network of institutions and individuals whose mission is to protect scholars and promote academic freedom. Similar to what we have done in the past for other global crises, we are exploring a fundraising campaign through our projectDal site 鈥� with matching funds from the university 鈥� that would support Scholars at Risk from Ukraine and other conflict zones. We are also looking at other ways we can help through the organization, including potentially hosting a threatened scholar at H漫画 as a limited-term appointment.
• Across the university, key units stand at the ready to support existing or incoming students and researchers from Ukraine with visa and other processes.

Shows of solidarity

• The Ukrainian flag is currently raised on both our Halifax (Studley) and Truro campuses.
• Earlier this month, H漫画 Multifaith Services welcomed students, faculty and staff to a campus vigil, Prayers for Peace, in honour of Ukraine.

Engaging in dialogue

• Earlier this month, H漫画 co-hosted The Conflict in Ukraine: A Forum. The virtual event featured experts from H漫画, Saint Mary鈥檚 and Mount Saint Vincent Universities and was sponsored by the Jean Monnet European Union Centre of Excellence (JMEUCE), the Centre for the Study of Security and Development (CSSD), the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the Office of Advancement. Read the Dal News story and .
• H漫画鈥檚 Department of Russian Studies has released a statement condemning the invasion of Ukraine and also hosted a Zoom discussion with Prof. Yuliya Ilchuk (Stanford University).
• The Dal-hosted Dallaire Institute for Children, Peace, and Security has been providing advice to the Canadian Armed Forces and National Defence on the need for preparation and training on interacting with children in the context of Ukraine. Its staff have also done media interviews and is participating in programming for local schools on how to discuss the Ukrainian war with children.
• Some examples of H漫画 experts making time through the media to inform and educate on the conflict include, but are not limited to:
  • Ruben Zaiotti (Political Science) and Robert Huish (International Development Studies: 鈥�Dal experts share insights on what Putin's invasion means for the region and world鈥�
  • Yuri Leving (Russian Studies): 鈥淲ar and peace in Ukraine鈥�
  • Raluca Bejan (Social Work): 鈥�How citizenship and race play out in refugees鈥� movements in Europe鈥�
  • Shelly Whitman (Dallaire Initiative):

Our ongoing commitment to our strategic plan, Third Century Promise, and the many important EDIA initiatives and investments focused on Indigenous, African Nova Scotian and Black individuals and communities remain paramount, but we recognize the significant interest in our Dal community and globally in the situation in Ukraine and will work to offer support as best we can.

I was inspired to read the recent Dal News story about two researchers in our Department of Psychology and Neuroscience 鈥� Rita Kostyleva and Jolanta Borycz 鈥� and how they worked together to help members of Rita鈥檚 family in Ukraine find safe passage across the border to Poland, where Jolanta鈥檚 sister was there waiting to shepherd them to new accommodations. What an amazing example of what compassion, collaboration and community spirit can do when we ask ourselves, 鈥淲hat can we do to help?鈥� Even when that help may seem small, it can make all the difference in the world to someone who needs it.

If you need help or are looking for a space to talk, there are people at Dal who are here for you. Below, as was shared with our Dal community at the onset of this crisis, is a list of contacts for support at the university. Please make use of them if you need to, and let鈥檚 continue to keep Ukraine 鈥� and all those affected by conflict around the world 鈥� in our heads and our hearts in the days and weeks to come.

Sincerely,

Deep

Contacts for support

Students:

• The Student Health & Wellness Centre is committed to providing quality primary and mental health care services. Appointments may be booked online or by calling 902-494-2171 in Halifax or 902-893-6300 in Truro. 听
• International Centre:听Book an appointment鈥痮r drop in to chat with an International Centre advisor.鈥�
• Multifaith Services
• Mental health resources听including same-day counselling, telephone and texting counselling, appointments with Dal鈥檚 social worker, online resources and peer support.鈥�鈥�
• Residence students (Halifax): Connect with your RA or call a 24/7 Residence Life Manager at鈥�902-220-9038. Contact our Residence Support Coordinator at鈥痳sc@dal.ca鈥痶o ask questions and get support connecting to resources.
• Residence students (Truro): Contact an RA or the Residence office at鈥�902-893-7519鈥痮r鈥痳esdalac@dal.ca鈥痶o ask questions and get support connecting to resources鈥�
• Students who are experiencing financial difficulty are encouraged to听contact the financial aid team in the Registrar鈥檚 Office. 听 听

Faculty and staff

• Faculty and staff听supports听are available through our Employee and Family Assistance Program, which can be accessed at听听or through the听enhanced mental health benefit听from Blue Cross, or contact Accessible Employment at听accessible.employment@dal.ca听for additional support or resources.听 听

Additional resources

• H漫画 Security is responsible for the safety and security of the Dal community and operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Security Services can be reached by phone (902-494-4109 Halifax, or 902-893-4190 Truro), email (security@dal.ca), or via听迟丑别鈥疍补濒厂础贵贰听补辫辫,鈥痺hich also includes a Chat with Security function.鈥�
• In addition, our colleagues in听Human Rights and Equity Services听are available for support at 902-494-6672. 听

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