I have tried all day to capture my thoughts on the invasion of Ukraine and what it means for academics.
I am speechless.
Rather than waste time commenting on Putin and the failure of diplomacy, I've spent time thinking about how to help faculty and students in the war zone.
Why? Because authoritarian leaders often purge faculty and students when they seize power. This pattern has occurred again and again in every society - from the United States and recent attempts to censure faculty (yes, I'm talking about Florida) to further afield ...
So what can we? US and Europe-based academics do? To support our peers and their students in Ukraine? and in Russia?
First, if asked, speak up for academic freedom - at home and abroad. We can't cast stones at what is happening abroad if we don't support free speech at home.
Second, offer support to people at your school. This is a tough time for students and faculty from these countries. Listen to their worries and concerns. If their concerns go beyond your ability to respond, help them find the support they need.
Third, offer support to faculty and students further away. Ask your university to create opportunities for visiting faculty and students seeking safe harbor from war zones. Where possible, ask for funding for visiting positions or scholarships. People exiting war zones often have few resources.
Yes, most universities will answer no - but ask - you never know what resources will emerge.
Fourth, remember that support is more than financial. It means being willing to mentor and help faculty from Ukraine, Russia, and nearby locations. Often, the ability to secure a visa hinges on having a sponsor. Changing countries can be confusing, the rules are so different from location to location.
Yes, that requires more than sending an email. It can mean a multi-year commitment to a person or family. So make sure you have your own support network in place to help.
Fifth, pay attention. The situation will constantly be in flux. We will see misinformation spread quickly and widely in all forms of the media. Navigating when and how to support faculty and students seeking safety will require understanding the broader environment.
Finally, set aside your personal politics. Fighting local fights over whether Republican or Democrat preferred response is the right one, does not help people in need. Put your energy into helping people in need, not winning pyrrhic victories over faculty with opposing views.
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