Dear Bentley Community,
Like so many of you, I have been watching closely as the crisis in Ukraine has worsened in the past week since the start of the Russian invasion. As I watch this tragedy unfold in real time on the news and in fast-spreading social media clips that provide a chilling, firsthand window into the awful reality of war, I find myself experiencing a wide range of deep emotions. I am stunned, angered and saddened by the violence and rising number of lives lost across the country. Citizens going to work, school children seeking an education, university students preparing for promising careers, the sick and elderly – all have had their lives uprooted.
Long after the century in which the world was under threat from the scourge of authoritarianism, fascism and communism, in a world where liberal democracy just recently became deeply rooted across the world, over half a million people have now been forced because of this land grab to seek shelter and flee their homes. And at the same time, I am awestruck and inspired by the strength of the Ukrainian people who are determined to protect their families, defend their homeland and preserve their independence and democratically elected government.
I know Ukraine well, having spent time there earlier in my career, and I have experienced firsthand the beauty of the country and warmth of its people. I do not know what the days and weeks ahead hold for the people of Ukraine and my former colleagues at the Kyiv National University of Trade and Economics, but I know my heart will ache with the memories I hold dear of the wonderful people I worked with and who still live there today. At this moment of international crisis, I hope that you will join me in thinking of the people of Ukraine who are in danger as hostilities continue to escalate.
We are thinking in particular at this difficult time about the members of our community from Ukraine and Russia, and those with family members or other connections to both countries. Over the last week and a half, our Center for International Students and Scholars reached out to our students that may have been impacted by this outbreak of war to offer support on behalf of the entire Bentley community. We will continue to be there to support our students as long as they need us.
It has been encouraging to see so many in the global community rise to the moment and bring attention to the Ukraine crisis, including those in our Bentley community, where faculty members Bonnie Field (Global Studies), Leonid Trofimov (History), Joao Resende-Santos (Global Studies) and Dave Gulley (Economics) participated in a lively discussion co-sponsored by the Valente Center about the causes and consequences of the war. You can watch a video of yesterday’s panel here if you were unable to see it in real time.
I know that following this conflict may be upsetting for many in our community, just as it has been for me. Please know that there are resources available to help you if you are in need. Students can contact the Counseling Center by calling (781) 891-2274 any time, and faculty and staff can seek support through the Employee Assistance Program.
As a community, let’s remember to be there for one another always, but especially in times of local, national or global turmoil. And we should all be reminded at the opportunity and obligation that this university possesses in the promotion of liberal democracy, the support for market economies and the cultivation of openness and debate. Despite our geographic separation, we can speak out, continue to engage and learn, and stand with those in Ukraine in hoping for the return of peace and humanity soon.
Let us together wish for the success of diplomatic efforts to end this war quickly.
Most Sincerely,
President Chrite
