UF community attempts to come to grips with war in Ukraine

One week ago today, Russian forces invaded Ukraine, leaving many of us wondering why and how this could happen and what might lie ahead. Last night, UF illuminated Century Tower in the colors of the Ukrainian flag — blue and yellow — in solidarity with and support of our Ukrainian faculty, staff and students as well as other community members affected by the unfolding events.

On Tuesday, a panel of UF experts from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences gathered for a discussion in which they answered questions and provided context for recent events. A recording of the event, co-sponsored by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and the Center for European Studies, is available via Mediasite.

Some members of our faculty, staff and student community are from or have close ties to Ukraine and may be experiencing distress due to recent events. If you or someone you know is in need of additional support, please keep in mind the following services:

• UF’s Employee Assistance Program offers UF employees — including graduate assistants — and their household members someone to talk to 24/7. Both telehealth and in-person counseling are available by calling (833) 306-0103.
• The UF Counseling and Wellness Center is available to support both graduate and undergraduate students who are experiencing distress. Students may call (352) 392-1575 for assistance.