CAPS Confronts Injustices

At Ithaca College, we inhabit the homelands of the Cayuga people and Haudenosaunee Confederacy. These are stolen lands, still occupied due to expropriation, violence, and deceptive and broken treaties. Our work at CAPS is aligned with naming truths, reclaiming innate wholeness, and holding the complexity of our humanity. We make this acknowledgment in support of truth-telling, as a step toward dismantling the ongoing legacies of settler colonialism, and as a commitment to social justice. As members of the Ithaca College community, it is our right and responsibility to know and name—metaphorically and literally—where we stand. True healing is the unsettling, brave work of honesty and repair.

The staff at Counseling and Psychological Services are deeply dismayed by the continuing conflict in Gaza and Israel.. We are keenly aware of the psychological and emotional toll this devastating conflict is taking within the Jewish community on campus. We are also aware that students of Palestinian descent on campus are experiencing distress in relation to this conflict. Violence, hatred, and prejudice in all forms is traumatizing to all who are touched by it. A large part of our role at CAPS is to support IC students in coping through, and healing from, such traumatic times as these.

To that end, CAPS offers walk-in hours daily, during normal business hours, to ensure increased accessibility for students during this difficult time. Students are also encouraged to use our Let’s Talk (non-crisis drop-in consultation) , and After-Hours counseling services, as other alternatives for mental health support. While it is uncertain how long the Israel-Hamas War will continue, please know that CAPS is a continuing resource for students for the duration of this conflict and beyond.

After witnessing the murder of too many Black Lives, and observing the way our country is struggling to respond to the realities of current/historic police brutality and systemic racism, it can be hard to manage the many layers of emotion. Rage. Grief. Helplessness. Hopelessness. Numbness. Pain. And other feelings. This moment has been repeated over and over and over again and it can be overwhelming. If you are experiencing any of these, you are not alone. 

We at CAPS are here for you. To talk, to vent, to hold a safe space for whatever you need to experience right now.  We support and encourage a campus dialogue about social justice, race, oppression, and how the IC Community can support each and every member at the present time. 

The murders of Asian Americans and Black Americans recently, and over this past year, has been heartbreaking and traumatizing. What occurred in Buffalo and Laguna Woods, CA are just the most recent assaults in a long and painful history of violent acts against communities of color, spurred by those promoting racist rhetoric.  

As mental health providers committed to social justice, we vehemently oppose and condemn these acts of terrorism, white supremacy, and racism. All students need and deserve more from the system that perpetuates and benefits repeatedly from hate trauma.  

We stand with Ithaca College Asian American Alliance (@ithaca_AAA), their statement, and recommend resources they have provided. CAPS is available for students seeking support.  We would like to highlight the following quick-access CAPS services:

• Let’s Talk 
• Crisis On Call (including after hours)

Students do not need to be active or ongoing CAPS clients to use these services.  All services are completely confidential.  Your mental health is our priority.