Statement of Support Regarding the Earthquakes that have Devastated Turkey and Syria
May 30, 2023
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake (along with a number of subsequent and ongoing quakes) has devastated southeast Turkey and northern Syria and affected many surrounding regions. More than 50,000 people have died, over 100,000 more are injured, and at least 2.4 million people have been displaced. The destruction experienced by communities in these regions is far reaching and ongoing.
Union College has made a commitment to prepare and educate our students on issues of global challenge. As such, we feel it is important to make good on this commitment and recognize and reflect on how we, as global citizens, might help those in the affected countries, as well as what we can do to support those in our community who are affected by this tragedy. Unfortunately the Union College administration has turned down a request to make a public statement about the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria. So we the undersigned have taken it upon ourselves to do so.
For those looking for ways to provide financial help and support, please see below for a list of reputable organizations that are providing aid to the region in the wake of the devastation. The crisis has also produced an acute need for detailed maps for rescue and aid efforts. Union College Schaffer Library has information about humanitarian mapping efforts and a “how to” guide using the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team (HOT) software. The software crowdsources improvements in maps and provides the data to relief workers, mapping the areas in Turkey and Syria most impacted by the most recent earthquake here: https://tasks.hotosm.org/explore.
We offer our support to all students, staff, and faculty from Turkey and Syria. Our thoughts are with you all and your families in these difficult times. Please know that the Union College community is here for you.
Signed (signatures below)
Kenneth Aslakson, History
Claire Bracken, English
Krisanna Scheiter, Philosophy
Katherine Lynes, English
Louisa Matthew, Visual Arts
JIllmarie Murphy, English
Carol Weisse, Psychology
George Bizer, Psychology
Robert Samet, Anthropology
Jenelle Troxell, English/Film Studies
Jennifer Mitchell, English/Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies.
Sharon Gmelch, Anthropology
William Garcia, Modern Languages and Literatures
Ginny Solomon, Learning Design
Catherine Walker, Psychology
Christina Tønnesen-Friedman, Mathematics
Megan Flynn, Theatre & Dance
Maritza Osuna, Modern Languages and Literatures
Lori Marso, Political Science
James A. de Sève, Film Studies
Michele Ricci Bell, MLL
Ellen Gasparovic, Mathematics
Laurie McGill, History and Political Science
Stephanie Mueller, Modern Languages and Literatures
Bill McCaffery, ITS User Services
Tommaso Gazzarri, Classics
Andrew Feffer, History
Eshragh Motahar, Economics & Asian Studies
Andy Morris
Megan M. Ferry, Modern Languages and Literatures & Asian Studies
Jeff Jauregui, Mathematics
Stephen Schmidt, Economics
Bill Keat, Mechanical Engineering
Hans-Friedrich Mueller, Classics
Timothy Stablein, Sociology
Chris Chandler, Music
Guillermina Seri, Political Science/LACS
Silvina Yi, Modern Languages and Literatures/LACS
Zoe Oxley, Political Science
Kathleen LoGiudice, Biological Sciences
Alicia Dang, Economics/Asian Studies
Anouk Verheyden-Gillikin, Geosciences
Maité Cruz, Philosophy
Daniel Mosquera, MLL
Hugh Jenkins, English
Angela Commito, Classics
Jeffrey Witsoe, Anthropology
Michelle Chilcoat, Film Studies/French
Laini Nemett, Visual Arts
Peter Bedford, Religious Studies
Gregory Callaghan, Classics
Fuat Sener, Economics
Joyce Madancy, History
Stacie Raucci, Classics
Brian Peterson, History
Jennifer Fredricks, Psychology
John Cramsie, History
Bradley Hays, Political Science
Luke Dosiek, Electrical, Computer & Biomedical Engineering
Charles Batson, Modern Languages and Literatures
Lewis Davis, Economics
Cigdem Cidam, Political Science
Shena McAuliffe, English
Chris Duncan, Visual Arts
Jordan Smith, English
Joshua Hart, Psychology
Paul Friedman, Mathematics
Sheri Lullo, Visual Arts & Asian Studies
Mary Carroll, Chemistry
Pattie Wareh, English
Ken DeBono, Psychology
Linda Stanhope, Psychology
Romain Pasquer Brochard, Modern Languages and Literatures
Brenda Johnson, Mathematics
Prateek Arora, Economics
Eun-sil Lee, Class Dean
Jonathan Marr, Physics and Astronomy
Lorraine Cox, Visual Arts
Don Rodbell, Geoscience
Bernhard Kuhn, English
Brad Lewis, Economics
Chad Rogers, Psychology
John Spinelli, ECBE
List of reputable organizations providing humanitarian aid and emergency relief
AHBAP: A Turkish civic association providing aid to those in need, including cash transfers and in-kind support.
Basmeh & Zeitooneh: Working with Syrian refugees, this relief and development organization has set up an earthquake disaster response fund.
Bridge to Turkiye: The BTF Relief Fund distributes 100% of funds collected through AHBAP and other local partners.
Doctors Without Borders in Syria and Turkey
Oxfam: Donations can be made to Oxfam’s Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal.
Project HOPE: Project HOPE has deployed teams in Turkey and Syria delivering medicines and supplies, and other urgently needed relief.
Syrian American Medical Society: Nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides urgent medical care in Syria.
Turkey Earthquake Fund: GoFundMe fundraiser organized by Research Institute On Turkey and was co-initiated by Einaudi’s Esra Akcan.
Turkish Philanthropy Funds: TPF’s Turkey Earthquake Relief Fund uses 100% of donations for food and emergency medical supplies.
White Helmets: Syrian humanitarian volunteer organization that assists in search and rescue missions.