Solidarity with India and all Indian and Indian American Bobcats
To the campus community:
Like many of you, in recent days we have learned about the explosive growth of COVID-19 infection rates and deaths across India. India is currently reporting more than 350,000 COVID cases per day — more than any other country since the pandemic began. As overfilled hospitals close their doors and turn away patients, urgently needed medical supplies run low, and many sick people are forced to remain at home rather than seek medical care, experts suspect that current reporting is vastly undercounting the actual number of infections.
We are heartbroken at accounts published in USA Today and The New York Times about the dire situation in places such as New Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bangalore, and rural areas that are facing disastrous surges. At the same time, we are grateful that many countries — including the U.S., Great Britain, and Germany — have pledged to provide sustained help to India in the form of vaccines, personal protective equipment, oxygen, and medications.
Ohio University has a long and interwoven history of engagement with India and the Indian community. Friends of India, Indian Student Association, the Koshal Lecture Series, and strong partnership with Gopikabai Sitaram Gawande (GSG) College in Umarkhed, Maharashtra, all support connections and cross-cultural opportunities to engage with India and Indian culture in Athens. In addition, Ohio University is home to many Indian and Indian American students, faculty, staff, and community members, many of whom retain close ties to family and friends in India. To all of you:
Please know that we share your shock and horror, we support you, and we stand in solidarity with you and the people of India.
Community support
Together, as we live through this collective global crisis, finding community support can be helpful for many. Chair of Faculty Senate Robin Muhammad invites the campus community — students, faculty, and staff — to join her in conversation and physical awareness. Dr. Muhammad has scholarly and practical experience in addressing racial trauma and sharing tools for facilitating dialogue and reducing trauma-induced stress, particularly using methods from Tension & Trauma Releasing Exercises (TRE). TRE is a technique designed to help release the deep tension created in the body during a traumatic experience or through chronic stress.
Participants may choose to attend one of the following sessions:
- Tuesday May 4th, 3:30-4:30
- Wednesday May 5th, noon-1pm
- Thursday May 6th, noon-1pm and
- Thursday, May 6th, 4-5pm
Please register for this community program by emailing diversityinclusion@ohio.edu indicating the session you would like to attend. Attendance will be limited to 8 participants per session.
Other campus resources include:
- Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) - Call 740-593-1616 if you need to reach a counselor during an emergency or want to talk to someone immediately
- Bobcat Well-Being
How can you help?
You may also choose to support the following organizations that provide direct aid in India:
- GiveIndia
- Khalsa AID International
- AID India (Association for India’s Development)
For more an overview of other organizations providing supplies and direct aid to Indians, please see two features in The New York Times and CNN.
As always, please reach out the Division of Diversity and Inclusion at diversityinclusion@ohio.edu to speak with a staff member from the LGBT Center, Multicultural Center, the Office for Multicultural Student Access and Retention (OSMAR), or the Women’s Center. The Office of Global Affairs (globalaffairs@ohio.edu) and International Student and Faculty Services (isfs@ohio.edu) are also available to support and talk. We are here for you.
In solidarity,
Dr. Gigi Secuban
Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion
Dr. Ji-Yeung Jang
Interim Executive Director for Global Affairs