Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion Dania Matos and Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students Sunny Lee shared the following message of support on September 11, 2023:
Dear campus community,
On September 8, 2023, a powerful earthquake struck overnight about 50 miles from the city of Marrakesh. The death toll is already above 2,200 and feared to be even higher. Our hearts go out to all those who have been affected by the earthquake.
The well-being of our students, faculty, and staff are top of mind as we process the uncertainties of the aftermath of this disaster. If you or someone you know has been affected, please know that support is available.
Support Resources:
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Academic Accommodations Hub: Should you be grappling with the repercussions of this event, we encourage you to explore academic flexibility in consultation with your instructors.
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Well-Being: Visit the Office of the Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students’ Well Being resource, which provides more information about holistic wellness resources across campus. To discover additional resources and establish connections, reach out to deanofstudents@berkeley.edu
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Mental Health Support: Campus counselors at University Health Services at the Tang Center are available on a drop-in basis for urgent concerns. Visit the Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) website or call at (510) 642-9494. When the Tang Center is closed, call the after hours counseling line (855) 817-5667.
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Employee Assistance: Counseling and support services for UC Berkeley faculty, staff, and Employees of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
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The South, Southwest Asian, and North African Initiative team has created an online Resource Guide. Please follow them on Instagram and sign up for their newsletter to stay connected as their team develops new resources and hosts events for the SSWANA campus community.
In times like these, the strength of our community truly shines. We encourage all members of the UC Berkeley community to support one another with kindness and compassion. If you are in the position to help others, here are some resources we are aware of (though as this is still unfolding many have yet to update their web pages with specific info):
We invite you to share this message of support with your networks; please take care of yourselves and each other.
In community,
Dania Matos
she/her/ella
Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion
Sunny Lee, Ph.D.
she/her/hers
Associate Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students