Mona Shibli is scared. Her dad, her sisters and the rest of her family live in Palestine.

“Just thinking of what might happen to them is heartbreaking,” said Shibli, a Moraine Valley psychology major.

As the world watches the violence happening in Palestine and Israel, many students on the Moraine Valley campus are experiencing overwhelming pain, grief and worry. Fear of losing loved ones and watching the violence unfold are taking a large toll on their mental health. 

While calls for aid, truces and ceasefires between the respective governments continue, students here struggle to focus–on academics or anything else.

“The ongoing genocide affecting my Palestinian community weighs heavy on my heart,” Moraine Valley student Rowfyda Daoud said. “I’ve been in a constant state of ‘survival’ mode since it began, which has had a significant impact on my cognitive abilities.”

Maha Metan, a science major, described a sense of guilt witnessing the devastation while being detached from it.

“It’s very hard to see all the graphic images online and know this is real for Palestinians,” he said, “just knowing that we’re safe here as well, and there’s only so much we can do.” 

Moraine Valley Police Chief Patrick Treacy expressed sympathy for the students.

“A young person shouldn’t have to deal with that–not knowing and worrying if your family and friends are okay,” he said.  

Fears for physical safety compound issues

With worries of hate crimes toward Muslims and Arabs on the rise since Oct. 7, students are navigating additional fears. 

The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, has recorded a spike of 774 complaints and incidents against Muslims since the escalation of violence overseas began.

“There are parents that even encouraged their students not to go to school anymore because of the safety concerns,” said Adel Moustafa, sponsor of Moraine Valley’s Muslim Student Association and a member of the radiology faculty. 

Physical safety concerns also escalated as rumors spread last week over social media regarding alleged threats towards Muslims in the Palos Hills area. 

Concerns for physical safety also come in the wake of the murder of a 6-year-old Palestinian boy in nearby Plainfield. This crime, along with students’ fears prompted Treacy to send out an email regarding the importance of reaching out to campus police to report any threats.

“There are things happening across the country, some fairly close,” Treacy said. “So, it’s realistic to be prepared for something to happen. We’ve taken several steps to be aware and make sure everyone can be safer.” 

Moraine Valley police have had a presence at recent events on campus, including listening sessions held by administrators on Oct. 23 and a vigil for Gaza on Oct. 24.

“We want to keep our distance, but be ready for the safety of everyone, and do so discreetly,” Treacy said. “We don’t want anyone to feel like they are in a police state.”

Some Moraine Valley students and faculty members say bias in news media coverage on Gaza helps create the atmosphere of hate towards Palestinians and Muslims. 

“It feels like we are fighting against the narrative that is dehumanizing us,” said Nina Shoman-Dajani, assistant dean of Learning Enrichment and College Readiness and a scholar of Middle East history.

Moraine Valley counselor Souzan Naser says many students are affected by mainstream media rhetoric that is “anti-Muslim, anti-Arab, and anti-Palestinian.” 

“Moraine sits in a congressional district with one of the largest concentrations of Palestinians in the U.S.,” Naser said. “It’s clear we also enroll a sizable number of other Arab Americans. These communities are being vilified.” 

However, she said, this rhetoric can be understood and fixed from a community level. 

“I would encourage students to share with faculty and their peer group resources, books and articles that amplify their stories,” Naser said.

Shoman-Dajani said it’s important for people to fact check their sources and take a look at non-Western sources to mitigate possible bias in the media. 

MV counselors suggest coping strategies

Moraine Valley counselors say they are ready to provide students continuous support and help dealing with the ongoing challenges.

Counselor Teresa Hannon urges students to “honor the fact that you’re grieving.” She says, “There has to be a sense of self-care and self-compassion.” 

Shanya Gray, another counselor, reassures students, “It is normal for you to be having a difficult time. It’s normal that you’re worried or concerned that you can’t concentrate or can’t really focus. All of those things are normal.” 

When navigating through feelings of grief and sadness from watching upsetting content, Hannon suggests taking the time to disengage from exposure to graphic media: “Even if it’s during the day or before bedtime, don’t go on your social media, don’t go on your phone. Create some boundaries. It doesn’t mean you don’t care, it means you’re taking care of yourself.”

Naser emphasizes the role the Counseling and Career Development Center can provide to students whose mental health has been affected by the devastating events. 

“We encourage any student who is struggling to reach out to us,” Naser said. “When students are struggling emotionally, it impacts their ability to persist academically. We are committed to making our space a site of collective support.” 

MV police chief offers ways to stay safe

For students who find themselves in a situation where they may be in physical danger, Treacy highlights the essentials. 

“If someone near you makes you physically uncomfortable, get out of the area, call 911 if they follow you, or contact our department in any way possible,” he said. “There’s a lot of ways to get us on campus.  

“Outside on campus and in the parking lot, we have the emergency blue poles. We have red phones providing direct lines to us attached to walls in all buildings and in major hallways. Classroom phones also have direct lines, all which provide your location.”

For students worrying about keeping confidentiality in case of being harassed or attacked, Treacy said various measures can be taken to address the situation. 

“We won’t include their name if you say you won’t give it to us,” he said. “We need to know what occurs on campus, and if you can give a description of the offender along with a location, then it’s likely we can do a follow up.”

If the situation involves more than one incident but the victim prefers to remain unnamed, Treacy said police would work on it as an active investigation, using cameras and other officers around the area. 

“We’ll try to put ourselves in a position where we can act.”

A lasting question on many students’ minds after suffering from grief is to ask what else they can do to help. Students are not powerless, say MSA sponsors Moustafa and Madi-McCarthy. 

“Get your education, become successful,” Moustafa says. “Your success can give you the seat to speak up.

“When your name becomes the valedictorian, when your name becomes on the board, when your name is achieved, whatever it is, you now can speak. The platform is yours, as you earned it and you did it. And you now are empowered.”

Madi-McCarthy said students should foster the desire to help and use it to create greatness.

“Use that spirit and that love and humanity to drive you to do something good,” she said. “And do it in a peaceful way that’s going to be productive. There has to be a result.”

While the suffering from the ongoing crisis overseas continues to unfold, Moraine Valley students and faculty are taking measures to support, understand and learn from each other’s struggles. 

Treacy says, “Our students and staff are coming together and being civil, and strengthening our relationship with each other.”

---

Juan Carbajal contributed to this report.

Featured image by Aidan McGuire