Dear UCSC Campus Community,
We are heartbroken by the devastation caused by last week’s earthquake in Syria and Turkey, which has already led to the loss of thousands of lives and a far-reaching humanitarian tragedy sure to impact many more. On behalf of the university, we extend our deepest sympathies to all those impacted directly or indirectly by this terrible disaster.
As UCSC is a global community, a number of our students, staff, faculty, and community members hail from, or have roots in, the impacted areas. Last week, Student Affairs and Success, Global Engagement, and Graduate Studies reached out directly to students from Turkey and Syria to provide support and resources.
The severity of the earthquake and uncertainty of ongoing search and rescue operations may understandably have heightened the concern of those with personal ties to the region. For anyone in need of further support, we encourage you to use our campus resources. All students in need of assistance can contact their student life or academic advising staff in the colleges. Support services are also available through Counseling and Psychological Services and the Slug Support program. International students can contact International Student and Scholar Services. Employees can access the Employee Assistance Program, which provides personal counseling and support. We also urge faculty and supervisors to take into account the impact of this tragedy on affected students and employees.
As rescue and aid workers continue their efforts, the people of Turkey and Syria are in dire need of support and aid. If you are able, please consider donating to an organization supporting rescue and relief efforts in the region, such as one from this New York Times list. The rebuilding will take time, so please consider contributing even after the immediate relief efforts have passed. To our community members with ties to the region, we send our most heartfelt thoughts and support. And to our entire Banana Slug family, we send our gratitude for the work you do every day to build a community that is safe and welcoming to all.
In community,
Anju Reehjsinghani
Vice Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Richard Hughey
Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education and Global Engagement
