NYU Vigil Honors Turkey and Syria Earthquake Victims

Following two deadly earthquakes in Turkey and Syria last week, NYU’s student government and its Turkish Student Association staged a picket in solidarity with the victims.

Aya Diab, writer
February 16, 2023

Dozens of NYU students and faculty gathered on the steps of the NYU Center for University Life. Kimmel on February 15 to honor the tens of thousands who died in the recent earthquakes that devastated Turkey and Syria. The audience listened to lectures by professors and members of the Turkish Student Association on how government corruption and political instability exacerbated the catastrophe, and honored the memory of the dead with a moment of silence.

The February 6 earthquakes killed nearly 38,000 people in Turkey and Syria combined, and rescue efforts continue. Many were accused of lack of building enforcement in Turkey and instability caused by war in Syria due to the high death toll.

earthquakes occurred in northern Syria and southeastern Turkey magnitude 7.5 and 7.8 respectively. The authorities called the elements the most catastrophic in the regions over the past century.

Speakers at the NYU picket also pointed to government neglect as a catalyst for the disaster and demanded justice for the victims. Selcuk Shirin, Associate Professor of the School of Culture, Education and Human Development named after. Steinhardt, told how the disaster affected him personally.

“Usually I don’t cry, and I cry all day,” Shirin said. “Just because we’re here, away from home, doesn’t mean our pain isn’t real. It’s a real pain, but I also want to talk about the opportunity we have that we can turn that pain into action.”

The vigil was organized by the student government and the Turkish Student Association. The Turkish Student Association is also working to help those affected by the earthquake by collecting donations in the lobby of the Bobst Library.

Andrew Hamilton, president of New York University, called on the university community to support relief and rescue efforts in every way possible. in a news post February 9th.

“The devastation is staggering,” Hamilton said in a statement. “The people, the damage to buildings of all kinds, the desperation of those left homeless, the countless challenges facing rescuers, the harsh weather – the tragedy of this is so heartbreaking, and the needs so vast that it borders on the insurmountable.”

Yavuz Kaklykkaya, student, said he believes many people in the NYU community do not share his concern for earthquake victims. He added that while he believes the university helped in spreading the word about the disaster, it also did so slowly.

“I know there’s so much left unsaid” Kaklikkaya said. “I wish there was time for prayers. I wish I had the political freedom to speak more.”

NYU student Lamisa Khan called on students and faculty to show solidarity with the people affected by the disaster.

“Sometimes it feels like we have these vigils, and then the energy fades and people forget – they don’t continue the action, they don’t continue to support these causes or help,” Khan said. “It’s like we see vigils, we show up and then we just stop. I don’t know if people will continue to insist and defend.”

Contact Aya Diab by phone [email protected]