Supporting Those Impacted by the War in Ukraine

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

It has been almost seven weeks since Russia invaded the sovereign state of Ukraine. Since that time, we have witnessed the courage, resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in the face of a destructive and inhumane war. Some in our community have asked how they can help, and what more can be done. We write to you today to share some ways you can support those impacted. We also want to tell you a bit about related work—being done both in the classroom and by our students—here at Syracuse University.

Our immediate concern is for our students who are from the region and who may have loved ones in harm’s way. In February, the University reached out to these students to connect them with services and support. As part of that effort, the University is assisting in arranging housing over the summer for students who indicate to us that they cannot return home because of the ongoing conflict. In addition, a student-sponsored donation drive will begin this weekend. Clothing, non-perishable goods, medical supplies, hygiene products and other supplies are being collected. Donation boxes will be placed at various points around campus. The University is helping our students ship these supplies to a reputable relief agency. More details will be available later this week about donation box locations, the specific items most needed and how you can give to this effort.

For individuals interested in supporting those impacted directly, we encourage you to review the public-private partnership the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Global Partnerships has established with GoFundMe.org. You can make direct financial donations to pre-certified nonprofit organizations that are helping to address the humanitarian needs of those impacted by the war in Ukraine.

The University is finding ways to support our academic colleagues in harm’s way, including joining the Scholars at Risk Network. This organization protects scholars suffering grave threats to their lives, liberty and well-being by arranging temporary research and teaching positions. The University is exploring how our Syracuse Abroad sites might play a role in this work.

There is also important academic work being done that may have a long-term and significant impact in years to come. David Crane, a Syracuse University Distinguished Scholar in Residence, is the lead author of a white paper published last week titled “Russian War Crimes Against Ukraine. The Breach of International Humanitarian Law by the Russian Federation.” The white paper was created by Ukraine Task Force, comprising law students and legal scholars, several of whom are from our College of Law. The paper details allegations of numerous and well-documented war crimes, crimes against humanity and crimes of aggression that have occurred in Ukraine since the Russian invasion. It also includes a sample draft of a criminal indictment against Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. Professor Crane is a renowned expert in this area. He served as the chief prosecutor of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, an international war crimes tribunal where his work led to the indictment of Liberian President Charles Taylor, the first sitting African head of state in history to be held accountable for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Federal and international agencies have already asked for the task force’s work, expertise and insight in anticipating future action against Russian officials.

Finally, we know this conflict is weighing heavily on the minds of many in our community. Please know there are myriad resources, services and supports available to all students, as well as to faculty and staff.

These are just a few examples of how Syracuse University is responding to the war in Ukraine. We ask that our Orange community continue offering support, empathy and compassion to those most affected by these events.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ritter
Vice Chancellor and Provost

Allen W. Groves
Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer