Supporting Our SIPA Community this October: Resources and Programming

Dear SIPA Students,

I hope the first month of classes and activities have been exciting, insightful, and have given you a sense of the richness of our SIPA community. I have enjoyed meeting many of you in the halls of IAB, at my Dean’s Lunch, in my class, and most recently at SIPA Fest, where I learned about issues you are passionate about. Your commitment and energy are invigorating, and I look forward to a productive year together.

As we begin the month of October, I encourage us all to consider how we can support each other and our School-wide community. This month can be a challenging time for students as the curriculum becomes more demanding, daily stressors kick-in, and midterms draw nearer. This year, October will mark a difficult and somber period for many at SIPA who have been impacted by the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, including the anniversary of the October 7 Hamas terrorist attacks on Israel, the approach of a full year of war and humanitarian crisis for Palestinians in Gaza, and the escalating conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The upcoming US Presidential election may add additional stress. 

Today, Interim President Armstrong shared a message of support to the Columbia community where she encouraged us to rely on our shared purpose, our empathy for one another and to build on what we learned over the past year. At SIPA, we are committed to providing opportunities to engage in skill-building as well as offering support spaces and resources, including:

• Chill with Jill (October 3, 17, and November 7): Associate Dean Rodriguez will begin hosting fall sessions between Publique and the Office of Student Affairs on the 6th floor from 1-2pm. This is an opportunity to grab a sweet treat, chat and share your ideas on how to support and improve the SIPA community.
• Zoom Drop By (October 4, 11, 28, and November 4 and 18): These are opportunities for individuals or groups to speak privately with Associate Dean Rodriguez will occur from 2-3pm.
• Support Spaces (October 7, 22 and November 19): Join us from 1-2pm to connect, reflect, and enjoy wellness activities to decompress. The first space will be in IAB 1516. Locations for the following dates are forthcoming.
• Break from the Books (October 9): The Office of Student Affairs (OSA) will host their monthly Break from the Books community gathering in Publique. The theme for October will be organized around World Mental Health Day recognized annually on October 10. 
• SIPA Community Circles (November 6): The DEICE Committee and Associate Dean Rodriguez will host SIPA Community Circles for members of each community (students, staff, and faculty) to share their personal perspectives and the impact the elections had on them as individuals, while coming together as a broader community. A facilitator will serve as a guide to support the conversation and time of reflection.
• Leading and Learning Series: Hosted by the DEICE Committee and Associate Dean Rodriguez, professors Seth Freeman and Shawna Wakefield will lead a series of workshops about how to navigate conflict and cultivate your leadership in a time of rapid change. All sessions are in person, from 1-2pm and include a light lunch. Click the links to register.
  • October 10: Professor Seth Freeman will facilitate How to Talk About Hot Topics with a Classmate, Colleague, Friend, Roommate, Family Member, Adversary. This practical, interactive workshop gives participants a field-tested way to have an excellent conversation about any ‘hot topic’ that both you and your conversation partner will enjoy. 
  • October 24: Professor Seth Freeman will facilitate a workshop on How to Talk Politics More Persuasively with Someone You Disagree With. This practical, interactive workshop gives participants two well-established strategies for speaking more persuasively and winsomely with someone who strongly disagrees with you. 
  • October 31: Professor Shawna Wakefield will facilitate Grounding in Vision and Purpose. This experiential workshop will be a welcoming space for students to contemplate their vision and purpose, offering two embodied practices for returning to center as a core ingredient for transformative leadership. 
  • November 14: Professor Shawna Wakefield will facilitate Working with Habits and Tendencies. In this experiential workshop, students will increase awareness of how they respond in times of stress or not feeling safe, and explore strategies for bringing themselves back to center and embodying purpose.
  • November 21: Professor Shawna Wakefield will facilitate Reimagining and Building Resilience. In this experiential workshop, students will consider individual and collective sources of resiliency, and engage in a core resilience practice that can resource their leadership. 

Over the course of the semester, I hope you will engage with these programs, SIPA student group-led initiatives, other academic events and workshops on the situation in the Middle East, the US elections and beyond, as well as utilize the many School and University resources available to support your success and wellbeing, which I’ve included below for your reference. Please speak with your instructors and academic advisors if you are experiencing stress or feeling overwhelmed – they are here to help.

Supporting our vibrant student community is my top priority. Please do not hesitate to also reach out to me directly if you are facing difficulty so that my team and I can be responsive to your concerns. 

Sincerely,
Keren Yarhi-Milo
Dean, School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA)
Adlai E. Stevenson Professor of International Relations
 

Additional Support Resources:

• Disability Services is available to assist students with campus accessibility concerns and other accommodation needs. Email [email protected] or call 212-854-2388 for assistance.
• The Public Safety team is available at any time of day, every day. We have increased the presence of public safety officers across all of our campuses.
• If you need to request a safety escort—available to members of the Columbia community at any time of day—call 212-854-2797.
• We have resources for reporting behavior that violates our standards.
• You can access same day health, well-being, and counseling offices and resources across the Columbia, Barnard, and Teachers College campuses:
  • Columbia Health for Morningside, Manhattanville and Teachers College students (most services provided via telehealth and virtual options; walk-in not available). 24/7 phone support available:
    • For urgent medical concerns, call Medical Services at 212-854-7426.
    • For urgent mental health concerns, call CPS 212-854-2878.
    • For survivor advocacy and intervention, call SVR at 212-854-4357.
  • Faculty and staff can find mental health resources here.
• University Life provides additional well-being resources and tips.