Johns Hopkins University President Ron Daniels shared a message with the university community today related to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, calling the ongoing conflict "a tragedy that has upended lives … and is destabilizing the international order."
"In this moment of uncertainty and upheaval, my deepest sympathies are with those impacted by this crisis, and with every member of our Hopkins community whose families, friends, and loved ones are in harm's way," he wrote.
His complete message is below, followed by a list of resources for members of the Hopkins community:
Dear Johns Hopkins community:
Over the past week, we have all watched with considerable alarm as Russia launched an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, precipitating a tragedy that has upended lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians, and is destabilizing the international order.
Yet as distressing as the invasion has been, so many of us have also been awed by the stories of courage and compassion that have emerged from this moment. The Ukrainian teachers who have dropped their lessons to learn tactical movements. The Polish families who have invited scores of refugees into their homes. The doctors and nurses who created makeshift hospitals in bomb shelters and basements in order to continue providing care for their patients. And the thousands of Russian citizens who have put their own personal safety at risk to protest this unjust war. And we have been no less moved by the actions of people within our own community—those with personal ties to Ukraine and Russia who wanted to make sure there is support for students of both nationalities, the students who are organizing a vigil, and the faculty and staff who are mobilizing to help their students and colleagues who fear for family and friends caught in the crossfire.
These acts—great and small alike—are reminders that our academic community, along with communities across the globe, are knit together by a common set of democratic values and ideals: that reasoned debate and dialogue are better than bloodshed, that every person should have the opportunity to flourish without fear of violence, and that our pursuit of knowledge is fueled by a commitment to serving the common good.
In this moment of uncertainty and upheaval, my deepest sympathies are with those impacted by this crisis, and with every member of our Hopkins community whose families, friends, and loved ones are in harm's way.
Sincerely,
Ron
Resources for the Hopkins community
- The Office of International Services offers support and services to more than 5,500 degree-seeking international students from more than 130 countries at Johns Hopkins as well as more than 2,000 international visiting scholars, faculty, researchers, and staff in the United States; recent graduates; and visiting students.
- Students, faculty, and staff have free access to the Calm app, which provides meditation instruction, sleep assistance, videos on mindful movement and stretching, and relaxing music.
For all students
- 24/7 telehealth counseling is available through TalkNow. Visit timelycare.com/jhu and use your Hopkins email to log in.
- How to handle a stressful news cycle—tips and resources from Student Health and Well-being
For Homewood and Peabody students
- The Homewood Counseling Center is open to Homewood and Peabody students; call 410-516-8278.
- Student Outreach & Support, located in Charles Commons, is available for appointments by calling 410-516-7857 or by email at studentoutreach@jhu.edu.
- Religious and Spiritual Life, which is open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, may be reached at 410-516-1880 or by email at chaplain@jhu.edu.
- A Place to Talk is available Sunday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. in Brody Learning Commons 4010 and 7 to 11 p.m. in AMR I.
- Case management support
++ For Homewood undergraduates—Student Outreach & Support, located in Charles Commons, is available for appointments by calling 410-516-7857 or by email at studentoutreach@jhu.edu
++For Homewood graduate students—students and postdoctoral fellows may contact either Allison Leventhal at aleventhal@jhu.edu (WSE) or Renee Eastwood at rseitz5@jhu.edu (KSAS)
++For Peabody students—Contact Deb Gould, student case manager, at debgould@jhu.edu or peabodycares@jhu.edu
For non-Homewood/non-Peabody students
- The Johns Hopkins Student Assistance Program provides free, confidential assistance 24/7; call 443-287-7000.
- University Health Services provides medical, mental health, and wellness services to students, residents, fellows, and trainees on the Johns Hopkins East Baltimore campus.
For employees
- mySupport offers free, 24/7 access to confidential counseling and referral services for help with stress at work or at home, emotional distress, difficult life transitions, or other challenges. You can reach mySupport by phone at 443-997-7000 or by scheduling an appointment.
Posted in University News
Tagged president ron daniels, russia, democracy, ukraine
