As wildfires continue to devastate parts of Southern California, Colgate University is providing resources for students impacted by the crisis. The University recognized the emotional and logistical challenges faced by students returning to campus after such traumatic events and have implemented measures to help them navigate this difficult time. The Chaplains’ Office, Counseling Center and Shaw Wellness Institute co-hosted a support space in the Colgate Memorial Chapel for all those affected by the wildfires on Tuesday, Jan. 21.
The fires, which have displaced many, have added significant stress to affected students. Colgate’s wellness services aimed to ease the transition back to campus by offering accessible mental health support and fostering a sense of community. These resources are part of the University’s commitment to helping students navigate personal and academic challenges. Dawn LaFrance, assistant vice president for wellness and director of counseling and psychological services, emphasized the University’s readiness to assist.
“We’ve been watching the news and we’re concerned about people in California, and we know that some of our students are coming back from there after losing their homes or other things,” LaFrance said. “We’re just here in any way we can be. It’s hard to come back to classes after break, especially after going through some trauma.”
Counseling and Psychological Services offers daily walk-in hours from 9 a.m. to noon and 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. LaFrance highlighted additional efforts, including collaboration with Haven and Student Health Services.
“We try to host a lot of programs where people can just connect and be together,” LaFrance said. “We work really closely with Haven, which is our sexual violence resource center, and with Student Health Services, like Shaw [Wellness Center] and the counseling center, we work to try and make sure we can support students in anyway that we can.”
Assistant Dean of Administrative Advising Jason Shumaker commented on how the administration was supporting students from the area.
“We identified those students with home addresses in the wildfire areas and reached out to check in, offer support and help in the best way possible,” Shumaker said. “The impacts on each student varied of course, and we worked to try to address individual concerns, questions and needs. That support remains available for all students and for any circumstance, so mostly I hope students know we do care and want to try to assist.”
Jennifer Jones, assistant director of wellness promotions, highlighted the availability of counseling support and urged students to reach out whenever they need assistance.
“Counseling support is 24/7; it doesn’t have to be an emergency,” Jones said.
Junior Daytona Doherty shared her perspective on the fires as a student from Los Angeles.
“It was definitely really hard turning on the news each day. My dad worked in the area of one of the first fires and took a photo of the smoke before it really spread out. I’m very grateful for the fact that I was safe and my home was safe, but it makes you think about the stuff in your life,” Doherty said. “It really defines your whole life. It really freaked me out, the thought of losing it […]. I wasn’t displaced or lost my home, so it could’ve been a lot worse. I hope those who did [get] tremendously hurt by it are doing okay now.”
