Aloha Yellow Jackets,

A number of significant global conflicts are impacting the world at this time, and I would like to focus on the most recent one in this month’s newsletter. I had the life-changing opportunity to visit both Israel and Palestine in Spring of 2016 as part of a study tour.  Until that time, my perspectives on the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians had largely been shaped by what I read, heard, and viewed on mainstream media outlets. What I learned shapes my perception of current events and impacts how I choose to lead as a Georgia Tech administrator, educator, and public health professional whose responsibility it is to support all students at this time.

Brief Summary of What Has Happened So Far

The world’s attention was (re)directed to Israel and Palestine on Saturday, October 7^th with the deadly incursion by Hamas into Israeli territories. This was followed by the bombardment of Gaza by Israel, which has directed over one million Palestinian civilians living in northern Gaza to evacuate immediately in preparation for a ground attack – prompting significant concerns by Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières for the health and welfare of those affected. The impact on life has been devastating; while the number is ever-changing, this includes 1,400 killed and 4,121 injured among Israelis, along with 2,778 killed and 9,938 wounded among Palestinians, as reported by Israeli and Palestinian officials respectively to The Washington Post on October 16^th.

Study-Tour to Israel & Palestine

Visiting both Israel and Palestine profoundly impacted my views on the history and politics surrounding this decades-long conflict. During the two-week trip, I had the chance to visit Jerusalem, Ramallah, and Tel-Aviv – among many other sites of historical and/or holy significance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. We also had the chance to meet with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, as well as members of both communities in their living and working context.

I have many strong impressions of this journey, but several stand out. To begin with, I was inspired by the resilience of both Israelis and Palestinians. On the one hand, I met Jews who, despite having experienced millennia of persecution as a people, were engaged in creating and sustaining authentic interfaith and intercultural collaborations in educational and community settings, with many actively grappling with the simultaneity of being both – in the words of one Israeli scholar – “the oppressed and the oppressor.”

On the other hand, I witnessed impoverished conditions throughout the occupied West Bank, which was only accessible via a military checkpoint. We would consider those conditions a public health hazard here in the US: unreliable access to electricity and running water, food insecurity, with children playing in neighborhoods periodically rocked by violence.

After delving deeper into history, from multiple perspectives, and directly observing the realities in Israel and Palestine, I experienced a notable shift in my beliefs. In particular, I affirm the inherent human right of allpeoples and nations to self-determination and self-governance. This includes both Israelis and Palestinians.

Application & Reflections

In recalling these experiences, I want to share several observations on current events for our collective consideration. First, as a public health professional, I recognize that war is one of the most serious threats to the health of all communities and nations involved – with negative impacts that can last a lifetime and be passed on intergenerationally.  We also have to consider the vicarious trauma experienced by people who are exposed to the images and stories of violence through media coverage. My heart mourns deeply for the unprecedented loss of life and pain inflicted on all sides. Particularly troubling has been the large number of civilians – a vast many of them children – who have been caught in the middle of this crisis involving Hamas and Israeli Defense Forces. Violence is inconsistent with well-being, and war is an egregious act of violence no matter who is the instigator or retaliator. I am reminded of the Kenyan proverb, “When elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers.”

Second, it’s important to keep in mind that what is happening now in the Middle East spans many years. As members of an institution of higher learning, it is imperative that we learn as much as possible about the political, social, cultural, and historical context of this conflict – from multiple perspectives - before making a decision regarding where we stand. The Global Conflict Tracker and Reuters offer some good overviews to begin with if you are new to these issues.

Third, the power of narrative cannot be underestimated. As Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie observes in her 2009 TEDTalk, The danger of a single story, who tells the story and at what point one starts telling a story shapes the narrative and our resulting conclusions. Further, telling only one story of a people over and over unfairly makes a people that one story. 

Anti-Discrimination & Anti-Harassment Policy

Georgia Tech is committed to a learning and working environment free of discrimination and harassment. In particular, neither antisemitism or Islamophobia are acceptable in the Georgia Tech community. While emotions may be strong for many of us at this time, all of us – including administrators – need to share responsibility for the equitable treatment of all members of our community – students, staff, and faculty – and ensure that nobody is deprived of educational opportunity during this time because of who they are or the beliefs to which they ascribe.

We each have the right to come to campus to learn and work without fear for our safety or of retaliation for our identities and beliefs. Student Engagement & Well-Being (SEWB), via the Office of Student Integrity, will follow up fully on all reported incidents of harassment and/or discrimination which we receive.

I want to reiterate that if any student feels threatened or needs a safe space in which to be heard, seen, validated, and have their humanity affirmed, they can contact SEWB, including the Dean of Students Office, by:

• Emailing vp_sewb@gatech.edu
• Stopping by Room 210 of the Smithgall Student Services Building (Flag Building) during regular business hours; or
• Calling (404) 894-2565.

Student Engagement & Well-Being is committed to serving, supporting, and advocating for all students at Georgia Tech.

Freedom of Expression

At this time, it is essential that members of the Georgia Tech community dialogue forthrightly and fearlessly about the crisis in the Middle East. (Here is a helpful resource on Five Ways to Have More Constructive Disagreements from the Greater Good Science Center.) We may not agree on many or even most aspects, but I do believe that we all are committed to honoring our collective humanity.  We must continue to remind ourselves of the values of compassion, dignity for all, and freedom of expression and inquiry. 

As President Cabrera noted in his message to campus yesterday “…respectful interaction and discourse are the expectations of how our community behaves and are the standards to which we must hold ourselves and each other, without fail.”  I encourage each of us to demonstrate thoughtfulness, grace and goodwill to each other as we continue to weather this challenging and troubling situation. More information about your rights and responsibilities as students with regard to free speech can be found by visiting our webpage. We encourage you to exercise your voice!

Resources for Support

As a reminder: if you are feeling negatively impacted by what is happening, the following are the Georgia Tech resources and services available for students: 

• Center for Mental Health Care & Resources provides both individual and group counseling services.
  • Let’s Talk Program – Weekly informal consultations with mental health professionals.  This semester, virtual sessions are offered on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and students can register or walk-in for a support conversation. Please note that students clubs, groups and organizations are welcome to request a group meeting. 
  • Satellite Counseling Program – Mental health professional staff have been embedded into Georgia Tech colleges and schools. They offer immediate and local access to the students within those majors and offer weekly walk-in availability to students needing an informal consultation. 
  • Through a partnership with Christie Campus Health sponsored by the University System of Georgia (USG), students can access 24/7/365 assistance by calling 404-894-2575 to get in-the-moment support from a counselor. Students can also visit the GT Wellness Hub webpage for more self-care resources. 
• Dean of Students Office
  • Hip Pocket Fund - The Dean Griffin Hip Pocket Fund offers interest-free emergency loans to students for academic or personal matters and is managed by the Dean of Students Office.  Students in need of financial support from the fund should contact the Dean of Students Office via the request assistance form. 
  • Advocacy & Assistance: If you are concerned about a student who may be in distress or believe that a student may need personal support, the Dean of Students Office accepts third party referrals from faculty and staff. In addition, DOS staff may assist with students who need academic-related considerations, e.g., deadline extensions, missing classes, etc. Finally, DOS staff can also help connect students with on- and off-campuses resources and services. 
• Chaplains supporting the Georgia Tech community are available to talk through your reactions, thoughts, and feelings.

“Washing one’s hands of the conflict between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful, not to be neutral.” - Paulo Freire, The Politics of Education, 1985

With warm regards,