Northeastern Community Reflects Amid Violence in Ukraine

Meditating with their eyes shut on purple pillows, members of the Northeastern community came together amid the violence in Ukraine.

On March 1, students from all backgrounds gathered in The Sacred Space, room 200 in Ell Hall, to reflect on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A different approach to coping with the violence in Eastern Europe, the gathering was aimed to address the mental toll caused by events in Ukraine and Russia.

The Center for Intercultural Engagement, University Health and Counseling Services and the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service collaborated in hosting the event, providing a safe environment for students to express themselves.

Postdoctoral scholars and first-year students removed their shoes and sat on the purple and pink cushions as the event started. The faculty organizers emphasized the comfort of the students. The gathering started with a list of community agreements and a brief meditation.

After the meditation, students and faculty broke off into small groups, where they reflected and discussed their feelings related to the recent violence. Students’ answers were somber, many fearing for their relatives and the communities they call home.

Each breakout group’s time together was ended with the question, “How can the University help?”

For members of the Ukrainian community on campus, including Vice President of the Ukrainian Culture Club, Terenia Hankewycz, the gathering was a welcome sign of support from the University.

“This event was honestly great,” said Hankewycz, “It’s nice to see that the university is helping and aware of the situation with a space for us… Being able to be in that space and have that support meant a lot.”

With nearly 40 people at the event, members of the Northeastern community attended in person and over Zoom. Both Russian and Ukrainian students attended the event, many using it as an opportunity to express their fears, sadness, and anxieties.

While students were able to express their feelings in a comfortable environment, the event also displayed the unity and resilience of the Northeastern community.

“It’s really nice to go and see all these other Ukrainian Americans or Ukrainians that happen to be here in the same exact position, feeling those same fears and anxieties and everything else, but also equally seeing the support of non-Ukrainians coming out to show that they are with us in solidarity,” said Hankewycz.

The Executive Director of the CSDS, Alexander Kern, discussed the crucial step of processing distress in times of conflict.

“Taking the time to pause, reflect, ground ourselves in safe and healing spaces is critical. As we develop deeper inward strength, peace, and power, we can be better equipped to do the work of peacemaking and relief in the wider world, including Ukraine. In addition, joining our hopes and prayers with millions around the world helps overcome feelings of powerlessness and hopelessness, and may yet change the course of history.”

Like the students who attended the event, for Kern, the empathy shown throughout the gathering was a clear display of the Northeastern community’s resilience.

“I have no doubt that many at Northeastern feel the crisis acutely, yet may feel that there's nothing they can do, or they are more consumed with stressors and demands closer to home,” said Kern. “I believe small gatherings can be a meaningful sign and symbol of solidarity and can have ripple effects beyond what we can measure or assess in the moment.”

In response to the horrific event in Ukraine, many took to the streets. Thousands attended rallies in the Boston Commons and Downtown Boston to show their support for Ukraine. The Ukrainian Culture Club has also organized multiple protests in Centennial Common, raising over $18,000.

The gathering in the sacred space did not raise any money. Nor did the event spread awareness of the violence in Ukraine. However, that was not the goal of this event. The gathering in the Sacred Space allowed students, Ukrainian and Russian alike, to express all their feelings as one resilient Northeastern Family.

The Center for Intercultural Engagement, University Health and Counseling Services and the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service will hold another gathering in the Sacred Space on March 24.