The University of Alabama’s Faculty Senate Statement on the Crisis in Ukraine

April 20th, 2022
in News

The University of Alabama’s Faculty Senate condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which has given rise to a terrible humanitarian crisis. Two million Ukrainians have sought refuge in Europe, primarily in Poland, Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia, and Romania. Nearly 2 million Ukrainians are displaced within Ukraine itself, and others can only shelter in place as the war rages around them. The UN estimates that as many as 4 million people may flee Ukraine in the coming weeks.

The UA Faculty Senate is deeply concerned for the safety of the people of Ukraine, including those who are members of the UA family: faculty, staff, students, and their families, as well as alumni, scholars who have visited UA, research partners, and their families. We also worry for the safety and well-being of members of our community who come from other countries in the region, who face the prospect of extended military conflict and instability. Our concern is heightened by the recent damage to Europe’s largest nuclear power plant in Enerhador as well as the abhorrent bombing of a maternity and children’s hospital in Mariupol. We are troubled by emerging reports of dire living conditions and human rights abuses in the areas of Ukraine under Russian occupation.

The UA family includes students, faculty, and staff from around the world, including Ukraine and Russia, as well as other nearby countries. Many members of our community have family members who live in this region and have been directly impacted by the invasion.

We stand with the international community in urging a restoration of peace in Ukraine so that the Ukrainian people, as well as those of other nations in the region, can return to their lives, secure from the tragedy of war. We support the immediate establishment of humanitarian corridors. We also intend to lend our support in other concrete ways, including helping those in need through the organizations recognized by US AID (https://www.cidi.org/disaster-responses/ukraine-crisis/) as effectively responding on the ground in Ukraine and nearby, and we encourage members of the UA family who have asked how they can help to do the same. We are hopeful for a swift end to the bloodshed and a return to peace in Ukraine and we offer our continued compassion and support for all of those affected during these troubling times.

In line with our own support, we request that the UA administration reach out to help Ukrainian students, faculty, and staff who may be experiencing anxiety and trauma over these disturbing events. This is especially critical for those whose periods of study, fellowships, or employment were scheduled to end this spring semester and who are now facing visa issues and other legal and economic hardships. We ask that the UA administration ensure that these individuals receive the support they need and that their immediate and future concerns are addressed with urgency and care. Other academic institutions, such as Michigan State University, have even appealed to the U.S. State Department for assistance on behalf of their students and have delivered public statements accordingly. We also ask the UA Administration to consider additional support for UA employees and students whose loved ones in Ukraine have been displaced by the conflict and are in need of urgent humanitarian, legal, and / or medical assistance.

We therefore ask that our administration, using both public and private channels, include a statement that condemns this invasion, that highlights the specific tangible actions UA is taking to support affected individuals, and that provides information on resources available to affected members of our community, including, but not limited to, the Counseling Center; The Capstone International Center; the Financial Aid Office; and The Employee Assistance Program, among others.

STORIES ON UNIVERSITY RESPONSES