Dec. 8, 2017
(Click to view video message or read below)
The past several days have been unimaginably difficult as we have born witness to the devastating fires that are ravaging Southern California. Thousands of members of our local community and indeed our campus community have been evacuated from their homes, lost their homes entirely or suffered deep emotional trauma as we have seen our community erupt in flames.
In cycles around the clock, CSUCI staff have been working tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of our faculty, sta ff and students. Since sunrise Tuesday morning, we have made and received thousands of calls to faculty, staff and students as we attempt to understand the full impact of this tragedy and provide assistance and support to our campus community. I am incredibly proud of all of those members of our campus who have selflessly opened their homes, their hearts and their support to others in need despite their own personal losses and grief.
We know that we are not out of the woods yet, that the situation will continue to change and that our collective need for help and healing is significant. While the disaster itself remains unpredictable, we know for certain that our campus community stands ready to serve one another.
Toward that end, we have launched “Ekho your Heart,” a program to offer financial and basic needs assistance to faculty, staff and students at CI who have been directly impacted by the fires. If you are in need of assistance as a result of the fires, please visit this link on our website to apply.
If you are in a position to help your CI community members and would like to donate cash, please visit this link on our website. If you would like to donate non-perishable food items to our dolphin pantry, please visit Arroyo Hall.
Please know that whether you are a student or an employee, counseling services are free to you at no cost and that we have an extensive list of resources available to you on our website as well as answers to frequently asked questions.
As we continue to navigate this unpredictable situation, we know there is one thing that we can predict. We will be here to support one another. That is the bedrock of the CI community. Please stay safe.
Erika D. Beck
President