Today, we — the Trent Graduate Students’ Association (TGSA), the Trent Durham Student Association (TDSA), and the Trent Central Student Association (TCSA) — express our devastation to the outbreak of war in the Middle East. Amidst ongoing conflict within the region, we share in mourning the loss of life in both Palestine and Israel. We commiserate with civilians who have suffered personal losses and have been displaced by ongoing conflict.
As organizations of student advocacy, the TGSA, TDSA, and TCSA unequivocally condemn the use of war in place of diplomacy and denounce any act of terrorist violence perpetrated against innocent civilians. We join the international community in its repeated calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, along with the expeditious and absolute restoration of protections guaranteed to civilians, the wounded, and the sick or infirm, under international humanitarian law in times of war.
Our Executive Teams have remained intimately connected with key stakeholders within Trent University, including Trent International (TI), the School of Graduate Studies (SGS), and Campus Risk Management. Our individual student unions are working in concert to establish and maintain continuous inter-organization communication – including local representatives of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) – through which student support can be coordinated and escalated, as needed. We recognize that many individuals in our community have direct and indirect ties to the Middle East. As with any conflict, we understand that individuals within our respective memberships may hold strong and opposing views. In keeping with our commitment to diversity and inclusion, we urge respectful dialogue.
Students in need of immediate support are asked to contact available counselling services. Graduate students specifically, have access to free, short-term mental health support through the Student Wellness Centre in Peterborough and Counselling Services in Durham. Additional options for students seeking counselling services include the I.M. Well app offered by Student VIP Benefits, Therapy Assistance Online, and a variety of other mental health resources. If you are experiencing a crisis during business hours, you are encouraged to contact crisis@trentu.ca, and in the event of an emergency, please contact Trent Security at 705-748-1011 ext. 1333, phone 911, or go to your nearest hospital. Should you require assistance or clarification with regards to contacting an academic department or administrative office, you may contact us at gsa@trentu.ca (Graduate Peterborough), info@trentcentral.ca (Undergraduate Peterborough), or admin@mytdsa.ca (Durham).
SIGNED,
The EXECUTIVES of the
TRENT GRADUATE STUDENTS’ ASSOCIATION and the
TRENT DURHAM STUDENT ASSOCIATION and the
TRENT CENTRAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION