The Russian invasion of Ukraine has prompted Jesuit colleges and universities to issue statements in support of Ukraine, host prayer vigils on campus, and sponsor dialogues and panels online. AJCU has also expressed its solidarity with Ukrainian students by joining the higher education community in signing onto a letter to the U.S. Department of State, requesting flexibility for student visas, while Jesuit Refugee Service/USA has created a resource page, including an action form to contact Congress for additional support.
The following schools have issued statements from their presidents: Fordham University, Georgetown University, Le Moyne College, Loyola University Chicago, Loyola University Maryland, Rockhurst University, Saint Louis University, The University of Scranton and the University of San Francisco. Mission and ministry leaders at Creighton University, Fairfield University, Loyola Marymount University, Marquette University, Regis University, Saint Joseph’s University, Saint Peter’s University, Seattle University and Spring Hill College have also offered prayer resources and information on vigils for their campus communities.
The attacks have prompted faculty experts at the College of the Holy Cross and Saint Joseph’s University to discuss the geopolitical issues at play between Russia and Ukraine in panels and online Q&As, while this week, Fairfield University will host a faculty panel discussion, open to all.
The images above are courtesy of Regis University, Saint Louis University and The University of Scranton: blue and yellow lights were projected onto the Main Hall at Regis and the St. Francis Xavier College Church at SLU (photo by Erin Schmidt) last week, while the Class of 2020 Gateway at Scranton was lit in blue and yellow.
We will continue to share information on campus support for Ukraine in the weeks to come: please send your updates to Deanna Howes Spiro: dhowes@ajcunet.edu.