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C+V Special Edition Community Talk: Israel & Gaza

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Author(s)

Community + Values

CommunityPlusValues@du.edu

Feature  •

The violence that is taking place in Israel, Palestine, and Gaza is incredibly tragic and painful – it is hard to even find the words to explain it. Our thoughts are with all of those affected by this conflict. We know that this has impacted, both directly and indirectly, many in our community.

Winvite you to view the video above. Chancellor Haefner opens the session with remarks, and we then hear from a panel of DU community members from across the University of Denver engage in meaningful discussion and learning. We explore the human impact, recent events, and geopolitical context.  

Our goal is to create a space for empathy and understanding, where participants can gain insight into the perspectives of those affected and engage in constructive reflection and learning. Join us for this challenging and important conversation. It is imperative to note that every DU community member deserves to feel safe and welcome - we do not tolerate antisemitism, Islamophobia, or any form of hate.

It’s important to remember that behind every headline and every statistic is a human story, and that the people impacted by this conflict are not just numbers, but individuals with their own hopes, dreams, and families. We recognize everyone in the community is processing their own feelings, reactions, and thoughts. We know many have family members and friends directly affected by what’s happening. We want to provide a space for learning, support, and nuance around a difficult conversation. We hope you will join us.

Please see below for resources and information on the panelists This list will be updated as resources, programming, and events are shared. To add a resource or item, please email CommunityPlusValues@du.edu.

DU Community Speakers:

 

panelist headshot

Jeremy Haefner, Opening Remarks
Chancellor, University of Denver



 

panelist headshot

Micheline Ishay
Professor of International Studies and Human Rights
Director, Center for Middle East Studies; 
Director of Political Theory
Josef Korbel School of International Studies

 panelist headshot

Angela Michener, she/her
LCSW, Health and Counseling Center

 

panelist headshot
Gwen Mitchell, she/her
Associate Professor, MA program in
International Disaster Psychology:
Trauma and Global Mental Health
Graduate School of Professional Psychology

 panelist headshot

Ann Petrila, she/her
Professor of the Practice
Graduate School of Social Work

 panelist headshot

Jonathan Sciarcon, he/him
Associate Professor of History and Judaic Studies
Chair of the Department of History

 panelist headshot

Jeff Banks, Panel Moderator
Vice Chancellor
Human Resources & Inclusive Community

University of Denver

Ahmed Hussein
President
Muslim Student Association

 

Lily Gross
DU Hillel Director of
Jewish Student Life

 

  • Resources

    DU Community Resources:

    Health and Counseling Center (HCC) provides many in-person tele-medical and mental health services to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, including crisis and after-hours support. All University of Denver students have access to free crisis services at HCC, regardless of insurance coverage.  

    Get confidential support on your phone or computer through the no-cost TELUS Health Student Support Program (formerly MySSP). The TELUS Student Support Health app gives you 24/7 access to counselors who speak Mandarin, Cantonese, French, Spanish, and English. (Other languages may be available by appointment based on availability.)  

    Dean of Students Office serves as a central hub to connect undergraduate, graduate, and professional students to supportive campus and community resources to successfully navigate their DU experience. 

    The Cultural Center provides identity-based student programming, annual cultural signature events, leadership opportunities and support for BIPOC students and LGBTQ+ students. 
    DUhelp offers a wide range of resources to support your experience and success. 
    Student Outreach and Support (SOS) helps students connect to support resources, develop a plan of action to meet their goals, and navigate challenging situations.   

    Equal Opportunity and Title IX (EOIX) is responsible for receiving and responding to reports and concerns of discrimination, harassment, and gender-based violence involving students, faculty, staff, and third parties. EOIX provides information about resolution options, coordinates supportive measures, facilitates informal resolutions, and conducts investigations. 

    International Student and Scholar Services supports internationalization at the University of Denver by serving as a resource to students, faculty, and staff in meeting the needs of the international community on campus. 

    Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provides support to all benefited staff and faculty at no cost. The EAP is a 100% confidential health benefit, separate from medical insurance, to help you manage a broad range of life's daily challenges, including anxiety, depression, marriage/relationship problems, grief/loss, substance abuse, anger management, work-related pressure, and stress. 

    Office of Teaching and Learning, Inclusive Teaching Practices, Trauma-Informed Pedagogy: This Trauma-Informed and Healing-Centered pedagogies module is responsive to broad experiences of individual and community trauma in relation to academic settings, teaching, and learning. While the topics discussed herein vary in breadth and depth, the goal is to provide language, guidelines, frameworks, tools, and supportive resources to support faculty members and students as they navigate the complex layers of trauma and healing.  

    Mental Health & Psychosocial Support Network: Experiencing grief, sadness and a felt sense of compromised safety can lead to a wide range of physical, mental health, and social problems. These can include increased stress, hypertension, poor sleep, depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, anger, shame, suicidal behaviors, social isolation, and relationship issues. Entire communities that share identities with individuals who are targeted in hate crimes may also experience similar impacts. It is essential to recognize everyone may respond differently to current events. For many, mental health and psychosocial care may be helpful. If you or someone you know may be in need of mental health or psychosocial support, please contact the University of Denver's MHPSS Network - https://psychology.du.edu/content/mhpss-basic-home

    Trauma Disaster Recovery Clinic (TDRC) The University of Denver’s community-facing clinic, the Trauma Disaster Recovery Clinic (TDRC), also offers psychotherapy services to individuals and communities affected by trauma and adversity, including hate crimes. For assistance, contact us at gsppinfo@du.edu or 303-871-3736.

    Department of Campus Safety: In a crisis or emergency situation, call 911 and 303-871-3000. We are advocators and facilitators of a healthy and safe educational, professional and residential University of Denver (DU) community. Our Department logs over 13,000 calls for service and 62,000 computer-aided dispatch events every year, writing approximately 1,000 reports annually. We take your safety seriously, preventing and preparing for emergencies and crime while providing training and outreach services, comprehensive resources and reporting options. We foster a culture of trust with personable, timely service and transparent information on the challenges our campus faces.

    Muslim Student Association

    DU – Hillel Colorado

    Division of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)

    Chabad @ DU