Support for those with Ukrainian and Russian connections in our community

We have all been watching with concern as the Russian military invasion of Ukraine unfolds. The war is the largest conflict in Europe since 1945, and it seems quickly to be evolving into a global crisis.

I stand with UW President Ana Mari Cauce in her condemnation of the assault and the broader assault on democratic values which it portends. And, like Ana Mari, I, too, am aware of the impact the news is having on many in our community. Whether we have direct connections to that part of the world or not, it is impossible for us to be unmoved by what we are seeing.

We in this region are not spared direct impacts of this critical moment in world history. Tacoma, Pierce County and south King County are leading areas of resettlement in Washington for immigrants from Ukraine, according to Lutheran Community Services Network, based in Tacoma. One of Tacoma’s sister cities is Brovary, a suburb of Kyiv. And we know there are faculty, staff and students from Eastern European countries in the UW Tacoma community who are uniquely affected by this violence and unrest.

Members of our community with military connections are aware that the Department of Defense has put several military units, including some at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, on a heightened preparedness to deploy status, although none of those forces have been activated.

Although we cannot know how or when the war in Ukraine will end, I know that, as always, this community will come together to support each other and lend what aid we can where it can make a difference. To that end, I wanted to remind you of the many resources available from UW that you may find useful.

Our Student Affairs Division has reached out directly to UW Tacoma students from Ukraine. If you know of any students with Ukrainian connections who may need support, please contact the Student Life office at uwtsl@uw.edu.

To our military-connected community, our Veteran and Military Resource Center is prepared to assist you if you should have any questions about what this might mean for you and your family.

We must also support our Russian students, faculty and community members who have no role in the authoritarian policies of Russia’s government. If you feel unfairly targeted, I urge you to file a Bias Incident Report.

At times like this, it is completely understandable you might feel emotions such as fear, concern and confusion. Pres. Cauce’s message includes resources if you need to talk to someone, and Student Life has provided the following list of Tacoma campus-specific resources if you need them:

• Psychological & Wellness Services (PAWS) provides personal counseling, assessment, referral, and crisis intervention services to currently-enrolled students.
• MySSP is available outside PAWS hours for real-time, 24/7 confidential mental-health support.
• Student Advocacy & Support provides support and case consultation for students experiencing personal hardship, including academic hardship as the result of extenuating life circumstances.
• The Office of Student Financial Aid can help you explore emergency aid options if events have put an unexpected burden on you financially.
• Connect with an academic advisor if you are experiencing challenges navigating academic commitments in light of stresses and disruptions.

Finally, UW CareLInk is available to assist PEBB-benefits-eligible employees, their dependents and household members.

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, or just want to express your concerns and thoughts.