Solidarity Statements

CAPS Solidarity Statements

CAPS is dedicated to supporting and uplifting the diverse experiences of Cal Maritime students. We provide mental health care for individuals and groups in a campus community where there exist historical causes to current health inequities. We understand that there are systemic structures that promote privileges and benefits for some and create significant harm and violence toward others; these structures directly impact the inequity in the access to and delivery of health care services. Based on training and personal experience, CAPS counselors foster discussions of race, gender, class, sexual orientation, and other identities so to improve the self-awareness and interpersonal relations of students. These efforts are guided by our shared community values of fairness and dignity, which we uphold through ongoing development of self-awareness, cultural humility, and professional expertise. We are dedicated to looking within ourselves and our system to support diverse needs and to advocate for equity, inclusion, and justice for all people. We are committed to standing with those who are experiencing discrimination, oppression, and marginalization.

Previous Statements in Solidarity

Below you will find previous solidarity statements. To review each statement, click it to expand.

CAPS at Cal Maritime stands in support of the following statement from the campus Police Department regarding the recent killing of Tyre Nichols:

Dear Campus Community,

I am deeply disturbed by the actions of the five Memphis police officers in the Tyre Nichols case. The actions of the former officers were reprehensible, malicious, and inhumane. The lack of compassion and abuse of power, in this case and others, is inexcusable. The swift actions to fire the officers and conduct a criminal investigation is very appropriate. These types of interactions should NEVER happen.

I want you to know that your Cal Maritime Police Department is here to serve and protect the communities that we serve. We will continue to do so with compassion, empathy, and sensitivity. We regularly review our policies and procedures to ensure that we are serving you with compassion and benevolence. We stand by our informal adage that there is no call too small.

Lastly, I ask that WE come together and continue to hold law enforcement accountable in rebuilding trust and serving and protecting our communities. Incidents of misconduct, especially in the horrific ‘gang-style’ use of force against Tyre, cannot and will not be tolerated. Please know the Cal Maritime Police Department is committed to equal and equitable service to every member of our campus and surrounding community. We are stronger together.

Best regards,

Donny E. Gordon

Chief of Police

Cal Maritime Police Department

CAPS endorses the following statement from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators (NASPA)

NASPA Statement About the Lunar New Year Shooting

The NASPA community is devastated by the senseless loss of eleven lives this weekend at the start of the Monterey Park Lunar New Year celebration outside of Los Angeles, California. This particular tragedy deeply impacts the Chinese and Chinese-American community as many of the lives lost were elders within the Monterey Park community. The tragedy took place in the larger context of continued anti-Asian violence and mass shootings in America.

We grieve with impacted families and know that it is vital that we find ways to address hate and racism while also engaging in radical healing for ourselves and our loved ones, particularly our marginalized communities. NASPA stands with Asian and Pacific Islander communities to continue our work ensuring that we speak out and act to stop the continued pattern of race-based hate and violence while also empowering the API community through resources, reflection, and education.

We encourage our community members to continue to speak out, learn, and take action when witnessing rhetoric, harassment, or violence targeted towards Asian communities. Below are a few suggestions to connect in a meaningful way:

Reach out to Asian and Pacific Islander colleagues, without the expectation that they respond, and offer supervisees and students the space to share, grieve, and heal.
Connect with the API Knowledge Community, which offers NASPA members a space to be in community and engage with others addressing API and Desi American focus areas. You can also follow them on Instagram @naspa_apikc.
Join the movement to Stop Asian and Pacific Islander Hate at https://stopaapihate.org/. This reporting form is available in 15 languages and provides a way to report hate crimes and lists safety tips for those witnessing or experiencing hate.

Use the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services’ guidance document (May 2022) to raise awareness of prevention and response to hate crimes.

Our hearts are heavy today, and we are reminded that there is still work to be done to make our institutions and organizations ones that demonstrate equity and create belonging for API communities. NASPA commits to continuing our own work and to partnering with so many of you to work for justice.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) at Cal Maritime stands in support with the maritime community and the families affected by the tragic deaths of students at Maine Maritime Academy on 12/10/22. Counseling appointments for students (in person and video) are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until 6 p.m. on Monday, Thursday, and Friday). To schedule an appointment, call or visit the Student Health Center (SHC) at (707) 654-1170. Daily drop-in visits are available at the SHC from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. After-hours support is available by calling the SHC (x1170 Ext. 1). Consultation support is available to faculty and staff. For more information, visit www.csum.edu/caps.

Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). More information for EAP can be found by visiting www.csum.edu/hr/eap.html.

For information and coping resources related to grief and loss visit the following web sites:

jedfoundation.org/resource/understanding-grief/

www.helpguide.org/articles/grief/coping-with-grief-and-loss.htm

CAPS endorses the following statement from ACHA

The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is deeply distressing, as is the language of Justice Clarence Thomas, which suggests that existing protections for marriage equality, access to contraception, gender-affirming care, and LGBTQ+ rights in general are all under threat of similarly being overturned. The decision represents a dangerous restriction on human rights and patient-provider decision making. This decision will further exacerbate health inequities and reduce educational access by making safe, legal reproductive care unavailable to many Americans. For those in states with trigger laws poised to end or severely restrict abortion access as soon as a decision was released, these concerns are even more immediate.

ACHA firmly believes that all individuals should have the right to make decisions about their bodies and health care. They should have the right to make these decisions in consultation with their health care providers and in a way that supports their needs. There is no place for government intrusion in what is a deeply personal decision between a patient and their health care provider.

Furthermore, college health professionals include clinicians and mental health providers who have licensure and certification obligations and codes of ethics to which they must adhere. They are obligated to follow standards of care and are dedicated to providing the best health care to their campus communities. This ruling, and the restrictive state laws triggered in its wake, will directly endanger college health professionals’ ability to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care, and may place them in legal jeopardy.

ACHA continues to advocate tirelessly for the health and well-being of our nation’s 20 million college students and their campus communities.

CAPS endorses the following statement from the JED Foundation

The Jed Foundation stands in solidarity with the entire Uvalde community as it copes with the mass shooting that took place at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of the victims, the students, the staff, and the Uvalde community as it copes with the traumatic grief associated with this senseless act of violence.

Mass shootings cause overwhelming distress and pervasive feelings of uncertainty, and can complicate existing mental health challenges. In situations like these, it is important to provide direct support to young people, equip them with the tools they need to manage their fears, and provide concrete recommendations they can implement to protect their mental health.

We must also, as a society, take more effective actions to prevent gun violence. JED calls upon legislators to enact sensible legislation that will limit access to firearms and protect our children and our communities from hatred and violence toward others.

The JED team is committed to supporting all of those impacted by this tragedy. If you’re struggling with this tragic shooting, text START to 741-741 or call 1-800-273-TALK. Help is available immediately.

American College Health Association Statement on Racial Marginalization & Health Equity

On behalf of my colleagues at Student Health Services (SHS) and Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) we are with you as helping professionals and allies during this devastating time of profound racial injustice, political unrest, and a global pandemic. Systemic racism is not new and we must stand together to voice our demands for justice and an end to racial injustice and violence, for example in the cases of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor. Here at Cal Maritime we are focused on the emotional and social safety of students and others in our campus community.

It is not uncommon for people to feel trauma, grief, depression, and anxiety at a moment when community and global traumas are occurring. I want to assure you that at CAPS, we are not only trauma-informed but also socially-justice informed practitioners, and we respect your concerns with honor and integrity.

During the academic year and the summer, we offer 1:1 counseling as well as groups and workshops. Please contact the Student Health Center to schedule an appointment at (707) 654-1170. For after-hours advice call (707) 654-1170 and select option 1 to be connected with an advice nurse. If you are already established as a CAPS client, please reach out to Andrea Schneider, LCSW (Lead Counselor, CAPS) at aschneider@csum.edu for summer appointments.

Below are some resources that may be useful:

Black Lives Matter: blacklivesmatter.com
NAACP: naacp.org
Color of Change: colorofchange.org
Equal Justice Initiative: eji.org
Southern Poverty Law Center: spicenter.org
Minnesota ACLU: aclu-mn.org/en/donate
George Floyd's family GoFundMe: gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd
Minnesota Freedom Fund: minnesotafreedomfund.org/donate

Excellent resources for supporting the Black community and ways you can become a better ally:

https://www.glaad.org/blog/here-are-ways-you-can-support-black-community-and-fight-combat-racism-discrimination

RESOURCES: Here are ways you can support the Black community and the fight to combat racism, discrimination, and police brutality | GLAAD

The recent incidents of racism, murder, and police brutality, including the inhumane murder of George Floyd, have once again reminded us of the systemic racism that continues to plague America.

www.glaad.org

Our campus also has a Unity Council. For those interested in learning more, please contact Associate Vice President HRSRM, Diversity and Inclusion, Michael Martin at mmartin@csum.edu

We at CAPS and SHS are here to support your mental, physical, and socio-emotional health. Please let us know how we can serve you.

In solidarity, health, and safety,
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
Student Health Services (SHS)