On Monday, February 6th, 2023, a devastating earthquake hit Turkey, Syria, and other countries where, as of February 13, 2023, more than 36,000 people have died, tens of thousands of others were injured, and town after town was demolished in just a few hours (CNN). The local and global aid agencies are warning of “catastrophic” repercussions in northwest Syria and Turkey, where millions of vulnerable and displaced people are already relying on humanitarian support. Meanwhile, agencies have warned that fatalities from the disaster could climb significantly higher (ABC News).
Many of our students, faculty, and administrative staff are from Turkey, Syria, and the neighboring countries, and friends and relatives of many have experienced the effect of these disastrous moments directly and indirectly. Neither the Chancellor, university administration, nor International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) at CU Boulder has offered communication containing a message of solidarity, a link to any donation, or a piece of advice to seek counseling. True diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts require understanding the concerns of students from different backgrounds. GPSG urges the university to stand beside the affected students from these countries and express their stance of solidarity. Communication for all students could also make the students from the affected countries feel seen and visible in front of other students and faculty members on campus. This is important for fostering a sense of belonging in the campus community. The silence so far has been discouraging.
Sincerely,
Graduate and Professional Student Government
February 13, 2023