SGA’s Joint Call for Solidarity with the GT Community

SGA’s Joint Call for Solidarity with the GT Community

A Letter from Undergraduate and Graduate SGA

Fellow Yellow Jackets,

In light of the recent protests over the tragic loss of far too many Black lives, we join in solidarity with those calling for justice. At this pivotal moment, we cannot remain silent because our silence would make us complicit in the violence and oppression aimed at Black communities. We want to assure you that the Georgia Tech Student Government Association believes that Black lives matter and that we hold the families of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and Ahmaud Arbery in our thoughts and prayers. These most recent incidents have represented an all-out assault on the Black community and illustrate that our justice system is fundamentally broken. So many members of our community, particularly those in the Black community, have been traumatized, angered, and saddened by the manifestation of systemic racism seen in these events. We hear and share your pain. We urge you to continue to exercise your rights, remain civically engaged, and take care of your emotional and mental health during this time. SGA has created a guidebook (attached below) with some of these resources. We want you to know that we stand with you and will continue to utilize our roles to ensure that Georgia Tech upholds equity as we move forward.

Over the past few days, the Student Government Association has been reaching out to Black student leaders and other stakeholders across campus to first listen, and secondly, develop a plan to move forward, address the concerns raised by the student body, and advocate for meaningful reforms. This topic is important — you are important — and because we wanted to provide substantive updates and resources for students, we recognize that our response has not been as quick as we would have preferred. To create a campus culture centered on equity and inclusion, we must dedicate the necessary time to focus on solutions not just for the short term but for the incoming generations of Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. While we continue to develop a comprehensive plan, we have identified and are pursuing steps to ensure that we protect each and every Georgia Tech student. We need your feedback to help us do so.

Our next steps:

Cabinet members from both the Undergraduate and Graduate SGA are meeting with senior leadership and training officers from the Georgia Tech Police Department to thoroughly review department policies and officer training protocols, address student concerns of implicit bias and use of force, and set the foundation for continued student input on this topic.
Joint SGA leadership is meeting with Dr. Archie Ervin, Vice President of Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Georgia Tech. As part of this meeting, we will relay student sentiment and concerns to establish additional ways Georgia Tech can foster equity and inclusion for minority groups of students.
Student leaders and members of Georgia Tech’s Black Student Organizations will be invited to meet with SGA leadership to formally express their views and work with SGA on initiatives moving forward.
Joint SGA cabinets will work with the Office of Minority Educational Development (OMED) to expand and communicate resources and support for minority students during this time.

To help guide SGA in our efforts to advocate for you, we encourage you to click here to answer the following question: “What would help you feel safer as a member of the Georgia Tech community?” Your responses will help us better understand what our next steps should be to thoroughly address the concerns of the student body. Thank you in advance for your open and honest responses.

While we continue to reach out to stakeholders across Georgia Tech’s campus, we have compiled a comprehensive list of resources available to students in Atlanta and across the nation. As we navigate these difficult times together, please view these resources and if you know of additional resources and would like to share with others, please email us and we will add them to the page.

We are here for you, now and always. As an organization, we remain committed to standing up for your voices, especially those in our historically underserved and marginalized populations, and ensuring that each and every Georgia Tech student has the opportunity to succeed. If we can ever be of assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to us at sga@gatech.edu. To learn more about our response and access to additional resources, click here to see our news update.

From the Undergraduate and Graduate Student Government Association Executive Cabinets,

In Progress and Service,

Brielle Lonsberry, Undergraduate Student Body President
Kyle Smith, Undergraduate Executive Vice President
Lea Harris, Graduate Student Body President
Jay McKinney, Graduate Executive Vice President

Available Resources

Comprehensive Resource Guide

The Student Government Association External Affairs team put together a comprehensive guide of all of the resources listed below. You can click below to download the guide and access all of these resources in one place.

Access Comprehensive Guide

How to Speak Out

Name	Contact Information
Your City’s Chief of Police	Varies by Location
Your County’s Sheriff	Varies by Location
Your State Patrol Headquarters	Varies by Location
Your Mayor	Varies by Location
Your Governor	Varies by Location
Local Accountability/Human Rights Office	Varies by Location
Chief Erika Shields (Atlanta Police)	(404) 546-6900
Sheriff Ted Jackson (Fulton County Sheriff)	(404) 612-5100
Georgia Department of Public Safety	(404) 624-7477

How to Protest Safely

General Information

Only attend protests with transparent leadership linked to legitimate community/activism organizations
If you are an international student, be aware that if you get arrested, you could potentially lose your visa
We are still in the midst of a pandemic, so remember to wear a mask, socially distance if you are able, and try to quarantine after going to a protest
Under the 4^th Amendment, you do not have to give your passwords to your devices to the police. Facial recognition passwords are not protected.
You only have to identify yourself by Name and DOB, hold your responses, and wait to speak to your attorney. Do not volunteer any information
Always stay with your group. Some police tactics are to separate people.
Plan your transportation. Usually, roads are cut off for a protest and/or march. Consider carpooling and using public transportation.
Let your family and/or close friends know that you are protesting so that they can support you and know where you are.

How to Act

Act Boldly
Follow Protest Leaders
Participate in chants

What to Wear

Clothing:
- Nondescriptive
- Comfortable
- Fitted clothing that is hard to grab
Face masks, and bring extra if possible
Thick sneakers or boots
Goggles (including heat resistant goggles)
Emergency contacts on your arms
- Atlanta Jail Support: (404) 689-1519
- Your Local Jail Support: Varies by Location
Pull your hair back

What to Bring

Water
Cash
ID
Snacks
First aid
Protest signs
A cell-phone (fully-charged) in airplane mode with a passcode lock
A backpack or fanny pack to carry your items

What to Do if You Get Hit With Tear Gas

Remain calm and take the following steps:
Avoid using oils/lotions because they can trap chemicals and prolong exposure
Breathe slowly, blow your nose, rinse your mouth, cough, and spit
If possible, shut your eyes
Quickly move away from the tear gas canister
Remove your contacts, or have someone with clean hands remove your contacts and through them away, or wash your glasses
Wash your hands and rinse your eyes
- If possible, use a solution of half antacid/half water, or use milk
Get home, air out your clothes, wash your clothes, and shower

Advocacy/Donations

Name	Website
Georgia NAACP (or local NAACP chapter)	Click Here
George Floyd Memorial Fund	Click Here
Reclaim the Block	Click Here
Black Lives Matter	Click Here
Campaign Zero	Click Here
Black Visions Collective	Click Here
ATL Solidarity Fund	Click Here
Black Youth Project 100	Click Here
Color of Change	Click Here
National NAACP Organization	Click Here
Southern Center for Human Rights	Click Here
The King Center	Click Here
National Center for Civil and Human Rights	Click Here

Georgia Tech Resources

Name	Website
Office of Minority Education	Click Here
Center for Student Diversity and Inclusion	Click Here
Center for Engineering Education and Diversity	Click Here
Health Initiatives	Click Here
Women’s Resource Center	Click Here
LGBTQIA Resource Center	Click Here
GT Counseling Center	Click Here
SGA Legal Advising	Click Here

Mental Health Resources

Name	Website
The Steve Fund	Click Here (or text STEVE to 741741)
Therapy for Black Girls	Click Here
Therapy for Black Men	Click Here
Black Emotional and Mental Health	Click Here
Silence the Shame	Click Here
The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation	Click Here
BetterHelp	Click Here
The Trevor Project	Click Here
National Suicide Prevention Line	1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Black Student Organizations (BSO)

Name	Website
African American Student Union	Click Here
African Student Association	Click Here
Black Graduate Student Association	Click Here
Black Student Recruitment Team	Click Here
Caribbean Student Association	Click Here
GT National Pan-Hellenic Council	Click Here
GT Society of Black Engineers	Click Here

Education Tools

BOOKS (AVAILABLE FROM THE GT LIBRARY)

Title	Author
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings	Maya Angelou
Just Mercy	Bryan Stevenson
The Fire Next Time	James Baldwin
The New Jim Crow	Michelle Alexander
The Warmth of Other Suns	Isabel Wilkerson
Their Eyes Were Watching God	Zora Neale Hurston

MOVIES

Title	Source
13th	Netflix
American Son	Netflix
Dear White People	Netflix
See You Yesterday	Netflix
When They See Us	Netflix
If Beale Street Could Talk	Hulu
The Hate U Give	Hulu
The Black Power Mixtape: 1967-1975	For Rent
Clemency	For Rent
Fruitvale Station	For Rent
I Am Not Your Negro	For Rent

Feedback

To help guide SGA in our efforts to advocate for you, we encourage you to click below to answer the following question: “What would help you feel safer as a member of the Georgia Tech community?” Your responses will help us better understand what our next steps should be to thoroughly address the concerns of the student body.

Answer the Question

Steps Moving Forward

Georgia Tech Police Department

Cabinet members from both the Undergraduate and Graduate SGA are meeting with senior leadership and training officers from the Georgia Tech Police Department to thoroughly review department policies and officer training protocols, address student concerns of implicit bias and use of force, and set the foundation for continued student input on this topic.

Office Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Joint SGA leadership is meeting with Dr. Archie Ervin, Vice President of Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Georgia Tech. As part of this meeting, we will relay student sentiment and concerns to establish additional ways Georgia Tech can foster equity and inclusion for minority groups of students.

Black Student Organizations

Student leaders and members of Georgia Tech’s Black Student Organizations will be invited to meet with SGA leadership to formally express their views and work with SGA on initiatives moving forward.

Office of Minority Educational Development

Joint SGA cabinets will work with the Office of Minority Educational Development (OMED) to expand and communicate resources and support for minority students during this time.

Georgia Tech Summer Health Initiatives

Georgia Tech Summer Health Initiatives

With campus life disrupted by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Georgia Tech Student Government Association is committed to continuing to provide resources for students. As part of this commitment, SGA has worked with Georgia Tech Health Initiatives to obtain a list of resources available to students during the summer months.

Learn More About SGA Resources

Learn More About GT Health Initiatives

A Message from Georgia Tech Health Initiatives

Georgia Tech Health Initiatives is continuing to follow guidance from the CDC and the Georgia Department of Public Health to limit personal contact to reduce the risk of exposure of COVID-19. Yet, we have not forgotten about the health and well-being of Georgia Tech students, faculty, and staff and are ready and willing to meet your needs virtually!

Check out our virtual offerings for the summer below!

Well Being Weekly

Join us for Well-Being Weekly all summer long!

Mindful Mondays – 4:00 p.m. Mindfulness meditation practices to start your week
TEDx Talk Tuesdays – 12:00 p.m. A Ted Talk and discussion over lunch
Well-Being Wednesdays – 2:00 p.m. Wellness trivia on a variety of health and wellbeing topics
VOICE Message Thursdays – 1:00 p.m. Information on supporting survivors, 10 signs of healthy and unhealthy relationships, and virtual harassment topics
Flavorful Fridays- 12:00 p.m. Join our Dietitians on Instagram Live (@gthealthinitiatives) for recipe ideas and/or spicy nutrition conversation

Register here to get access to the Blue Jeans links! Open to faculty, staff and students

Fit to Thrive

Join us for a 6-week lunch and learn style series designed to teach faculty, staff, and students how to incorporate the dimensions of well-being into their daily lives. Wednesdays 12-1pm

To Register click here
May 13 – June 17

For More Information:
https://healthinitiatives.gatech.edu/thrive

For Questions Contact:
Amber Johnson
amber.johnson@health.gatech.edu

Jackets Journal Journey

What do Albert Einstein, Marie Curie, Frida Kahlo, Leonardo da Vinci, and Frederick Douglass all have in common? Each of these famous figures kept a journal to record their experiences, thoughts, or feelings. Journaling promotes self-care, enhances our immune system functioning and has been proven to reduce stress. Join Health Initiatives’ Jacket Journal Journey for a weekly journal prompt every Monday on Facebook and Instagram (@GTHealthInitiatives) to help you get started.

Mindfulness Book Club

Join the Georgia Tech community in reading and discussing the book “Mindfulness Meditation: Your Guide to Achieving a Life of Peace by Reducing Stress and Anxiety through Mindfulness Meditation” by Daniel K. Barton, while also learning simple mindfulness exercises that you can incorporate into your daily routine.

The sessions are open to faculty, staff and students and will be held over the course of 4 weeks throughout the month of June using BlueJeans conferencing.

There are two days/times to choose from:
Wednesdays: 10am – 11am
Thursdays: 3pm – 4pm

To Register Click Here

Virtual Wellness Coaching

Wellness coaching is now VIRTUAL! Wellness coaches will help you achieve your goals by guiding you through discussion and reflection. You can explore fitness, sleep, stress, relationships, future plans, and more.

For More Information:
https://healthinitiatives.gatech.edu/support-services/wellness-coaching

To register click here

Open to undergraduate and graduate students only!

Nutrition Consults Go Virtual

All students can meet with our dietitians to receive individual counseling via BlueJeans. Each initial visit includes a one-hour appointment, an analysis of your current eating plan, and an action plan addressing your individual goals. Our dietitians see students who want to address disordered eating habits, change their eating habits, manage a medical diagnosis or concern, or learn how to stay nourished while following specific food restrictions or allergies. Our dietitians are also members of Georgia Tech’s multidisciplinary Eating Disorder Treatment Team.

To make an appointment, email nutrition@gatech.edu

Open to undergraduate and graduate students only!

The Body Positive

Through the generous allotment from JAC, Health Initiatives is bringing The Body Positive to campus. The mission of The Body Positive program is, “To teach people how to develop balanced, joyful self-care and a relationship with their whole selves that is guided by love, forgiveness, and humor so they can focus on the things in life that really matter.” Research completed in 2014 at Stanford University demonstrated that the Be Body Positive model is strongly associated with self-compassion, healthy eating and exercise, more satisfying relationships, emotional wellbeing, and lower levels of anxiety. We hope to bring this mindset to Georgia Tech to create a culture where positive body image, healthful eating, and self-care are the expected norms.

Health Initiatives is able to offer the following opportunities through this program:

You can be trained to be a Body Positive Facilitator at Tech
You can access an online course to transform your own relationship with your body
- Be Body Positive Fundamentals: A deeper dive into the 5 Competencies for personal exploration. You’ll have access to videos, guided meditations, and worksheets where you can do your own self-exploration with the course material.
- Body Positive Health – This course is an abridged version of the full fundamentals course. Not sure if you’re ready for the full course? This is a great place to start! You can decide to complete the fundamentals course after learning more.
- Interested in the online courses or becoming a Body Positive facilitator? Email us at nutrition@gatech.edu These opportunities are open to students, faculty, and staff.

Georgia Tech Collegiate Recovery Program

Weekly All Recovery Meeting

Begins May 6, 2020
Wednesdays at 3 pm
BlueJeans Link: TBD

Hosted by the Georgia Tech Collegiate Recovery Program, the All Recovery Meeting, is for any student who is struggling with substance use, has questions about their substance use, or is concerned about themselves or a friend. All students are welcome to attend! This is a safe and supportive environment to openly discuss issues with alcohol and other drug use and the challenges that come in a time of social isolation. It’s important to stay healthy both mentally and physically during these stressful and uncertain times and this meeting is here to provide support to anyone who needs it.

For more information and to receive the Blue Jeans Link, contact
Christina Owens at christina.owens@studentlife.gatech.edu

VOICE at Georgia Tech

As Georgia Tech takes measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19, VOICE wants to remind you that we are here for you 24/7. Whether you are on or off campus, VOICE is continuing to provide confidential services to those impacted by sexual harassment, sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and/or stalking. Here is how to access VOICE:

If you need immediate support call GTPD at 404-894-2500 and ask for the on-call VOICE Advocate. You do not need to make a police report and you only need to provide a phone number in order to reach an Advocate.

For non-urgent support, VOICE Advocates are available to speak with students by phone, to meet either via video conferencing or face-to-face, and to accompany them to seek other needed services. To schedule an appointment, call Amanda Planchard at 404-385-4451 or Jennifer Gagen 404-385-4464. Leave a message and the Advocate will call you back promptly during business hours.Be aware that isolation can create safety risks and trigger trauma for survivors. During social distancing or quarantines, it’s normal to feel uncertain, trapped, socially isolated or like you don’t have control. For people who have survived traumatic experiences, these feelings and experiences can trigger trauma symptoms to resurface or increase. They also may exacerbate underlying mental health issues such as depression or anxiety. We know that as students are advised to move away from campus, many are moving to off-campus living quarters with their significant others, family, or returning to their childhood homes. Students who live in environments where abuse has occurred face additional barriers to accessing support and an increase in abusive tactics like verbal and physical abuse and interference with academic work. VOICE Advocates are here to support you and explore options and strategies to increase your safety. VOICE will work with you to find a safe and confidential means to have a discussion. Remember, being a proactive bystander means checking in on friends, finding ways to connect virtually, and recognizing when someone may be in an abusive or unhealthy relationship.

Contact a VOICE Advocate to access support or to learn more about how you can help.