ETSU President Brian Noland is one of those university presidents who genuinely cares about his students. This care that he has for us was evident in a letter he sent out Aug. 25 where he observed campus upon its reopening.
Noland noted that for each person masking up and remaining socially distant on campus, there are a handful of students, faculty and staff who have to do their work remotely. Not all people feel safe yet returning to campus and being around people, and that is alright. ETSU officials have no intention of drawing people out of their homes where they know they are safe and forcing them to take part in campus activities and classes.
Even still, many in “minority” groups across the nation are afraid to leave their homes for fear of being used for target practice. COVID-19 in and of itself has been crazy, but throw racial injustices into the mix, and you have yourself a cocktail of fear and misery for a large portion of the population.
I cannot pretend to understand the pain and fear that minority groups must deal with on a daily basis. Intolerance will not be tolerated on campus at ETSU. If you or someone you know is being discriminated against, regardless of the reason, I beg of you to report the incident to the campus police or to anyone you trust so that justice may be served.
In his letter, Noland brings up the Mary V. Jordan Multicultural Center, which is located on the second floor of the newly renovated D.P. Culp Student Center. The center is a safe space for students to hang out and do their school work. The staff are always available to provide support and counseling if needed.
The ETSU Counseling Center is still operational during this time as well. There is absolutely no shame in seeking counseling at any time, but especially during a global pandemic when tensions are so high. Counseling services are available this semester via phone call or Zoom. Students are encouraged to call (423)-439-3333 or email counselingcenter@etsu.edu to inquire about services. As always, the 24/7/365 telephone mental health helpline BucsPress2 — 423-439-4841, press “2” — will remain operational.
This semester is not doomed to fail just because it is a little unusual. If anything, this pandemic and the challenges that come with it are all the more reason to excel in school and at life while showing the world what the Bucs are made of.
