Wesleyan Ukraine Rally Interview
On Friday March 4, 2022 a rally organized by Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Russian students took place outside of Usdan, where students and faculty stood together in solidarity with Ukraine amid the war. The rally commenced with a moment of silence as a form of respect to all those fighting for Ukraine and as a way to pray for their safety and wellbeing. Moments later, Julia Kulchytska, a Ukrainian native in the Class of 2024, spoke and said: “For me there are no more days in the week.” Kulchytska expressed the feeling of guilt that had risen inside of her. She was so far away from family and friends in Ukraine with no way to without the ability to help them. However, her resilience and belief in the Ukrainian people was shown through her speech when she said “ Russian troops are coming expecting that Ukrainian people will greet them with flowers, but Ukrainian people greet them with Molotov cocktails.” In addition to students and faculty members, the rally was attended by U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, who spoke on the political aspect of the war by acknowledging the role of the United States in making sure Russia receives harsh repercussions through sanctions. Once the speeches had come to a close, a walk commenced around College Row with the chant “ Say no to war. Say no to war” echoing throughout campus. Below are two students who took the time to meet with me and answer some questions regarding the rally.
Alicia Paglia is a student in the Class of 2024 who attended the rally and graciously agreed to answer some questions.
“Why did you decide to attend the rally and what did it mean to you?”
Alicia Paglia: “I decided to come to the rally for two reasons -- the first being that I oppose the war and Russia, and I wanted to show my support for Ukraine. But my primary reason for going to the rally was to support my friend Julia who put it together. She's an international student from Ukraine and I can't even begin to imagine what she's going through right now, being apart from her family and watching what's happening to her country while she's thousands of miles away. To me, the rally wasn't to show Russia that I opposed their war efforts -- a group of college students in Connecticut can't do much on their own to stop the war or help Ukraine (though they did raise a lot of money!). The rally to me meant that I could show Julia that I was there for her and other students like her, and I wanted to support those in my direct community as much as I could.”
“Do you think having a political figure speak at the rally was an important addition or do you think it took away from the students’ voices?”
Alicia Paglia: “I think having a political figure speak at the rally was nice, it was good to see the support from the extended community, and I think the organizers did a good job ensuring that he [Senator Richard Blumenthal] didn't take up too much space for the speakers. The primary focus was on Wesleyan students and staff, which is in my opinion how it should've been.”
“Were you surprised at the turn out or do you wish more people had shown up to support?”
Alicia Paglia: “ There is always room for higher attendance in terms of events like this, but I was pleasantly surprised at the turnout and fundraising mobilization from those that did come. I felt like there was pretty strong support from the Wesleyan community for the rally.”
Eugenia Shakhnovskaya is a student in the Class of 2024 and is of Russian and Swiss origin.
“Why did you decide to attend the rally and what did it mean to you?”
Eugenia Shakhnovskaya: “I decided to come to the rally to show solidarity for the people suffering from the war in Ukraine. Being in a country which allows free speech, it is important to take advantage of the opportunity to express our views. While we cannot directly help those in need, raising awareness for the issue is important in combating misinformation.”
“How does being Russian affect the way you stand in solidarity with Ukrainian students on campus and do you think that it allows you to see the war from a different perspective?”
Eugenia Shakhnovskaya: “ I think that it is especially important for Russians like myself to stand up to Russian war crimes. Perhaps we can reach our compatriots who have been affected by Russian misinformation and help change their minds. More so, we need to show support to those who are suffering as we are associated with the offending side. While not all Russians support the government, our identity can make many uncomfortable given the current circumstances, so it is important to acknowledge that and offer support.”
“Do you feel like you have a space here at Wes as a student who has Russian origin?”
Eugenia Shakhnovskaya: “ I think that Wes attempts to provide a safe space for all international students, as well as Russians. However, I feel as though I am not the best representation of the Russian diaspora; I do not have an accent and have mostly American friends at Wesleyan. Hence, I can see how Russian students may feel isolated at times. Other international students have expressed to me that they do not feel as integrated at Wesleyan particularly in social environments.”
“Do you think having a political figure speak at the rally was important or do you think it took away from the students' voices?”
Eugenia Shakhnovskaya: “ I think that it was helpful to have a political figure as it demonstrated that our voices were being heard beyond university walls. Nonetheless, students should continue to lead these gatherings and rallies, especially those who represent the Ukrainian community.”
“Were you surprised at the turn out or do you wish more people had shown up to support?”
Eugenia Shakhnovskaya: “ I was surprised at how many students and faculty members showed up. While we should always push for greater attendance at rallies, it was reassuring to see so many students show up.”