With the permission of Harvard University President Lawrence Bacow, we are sharing the message he sent to the Center for Middle Eastern Studies Director on Wednesday, February 15.
Dear Cemal,
Please know that I, like so many others, have been watching what is happening in Turkey and Syria in utter disbelief. The loss of life is incomprehensible. The stories of survival are heartbreaking. Though words fall short at a moment such as this, I want to offer my deepest condolences to you and your colleagues and students—and to all of your loved ones. I hope you continue to find strength and comfort in one another’s company and in our community here at Harvard.
Efforts are under way across the University to support those affected by the disaster. Memorial Church is hosting a vigil of prayer and mourning tomorrow evening. Each of our schools has reached out to students from Turkey and Syria to offer support and resources (if you know of anyone who has not been contacted or needs further help, please suggest that they be in touch with their dean of students as well as with Harvard’s Counseling and Mental Health Service). I also understand that you and Mark Elliot have been discussing opportunities for CMES to leverage its considerable intellectual resources in response to the tragedy, and I am eager to learn about your progress on that front.
Our alumni have been active in expanding support efforts. The Harvard Club of Turkey has posted a list of charities on its website, and members of the Harvard Alumni Association Board are sharing the information with their alumni networks. The members of the Harvard Arab Alumni Association have created a fundraising campaign to raise money for NGOs in Syria, and they are raising awareness of their work via social media and other channels. And Harvard Alumni News, a monthly newsletter sent to all alumni, will include a recent Gazette story that includes links to organizations working on the ground in Turkey and Syria.
Sincerely,
Larry