The Association for University and College Counseling Center Directors is disheartened by the Supreme Court decision on June 24th, 2022, overturning Roe v Wade and the constitutional right to abortion. This will forever be remembered as a day that five individuals (four of which are men which is important to note) overturned women’s rights to make their own reproductive health decisions. We support the autonomy for people to make these decisions themselves, and if they so choose, in consultation with their provider and the people they see as important in their lives.
The pandemic has led to increased demand for services at campus counseling centers as well as counseling staff turnover. Dr. Hotaling, the Director of the Eppler-Wolff Counseling Center at Union College and President of the Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors (AUCCCD), joins the Quadcast to talk about how counseling centers are evolving, creating communities of care, and what today’s students are experiencing. The AUCCCD is the largest organization of campus mental health leaders in the world.
The Association of University and College Counseling Center Directors is deeply concerned and troubled about Russia’s military attacks in Ukraine, the impact on the country’s citizens, international stability, and the impact this war has on our college university community members. AUCCCD stands in support of those adversely impacted by these events and our thoughts are with those who have connections to the region. While our thoughts are obviously with the citizens of Ukraine, we must also recognize that there are many Russian civilians that stand against this conflict who are being adversely impacted by their government’s actions.
The AUCCCD community all held our breath yesterday as we anxiously awaited the verdict of the Derek Chauvin murder trial. Before we could exhale, we were all reminded of the institutional and systemic racial trauma that the Black and Brown community have experienced in our country due to the glaring failures in our justice system. When the verdict was announced, we were able to breathe easier for a mere moment before that trauma came rushing back while Trayvon Martin, Breonna Taylor, just yesterday, Ma'Khia Bryant and countless others have gone without justice. This was an example of one police officer being held accountable for the unlawful and egregious use of force and we maintain hope that this is a sign of change to come. We as an organization, as well as individuals within AUCCCD, recognize that there is still much work to be done before we and our Black and Brown friends and family can feel safe and secure. We cannot allow this symbolic verdict to create complacency in our continued fight for equality, justice and human rights.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, over 3,700 hate crimes against Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) people have been reported in the United States, according to Stop AAPI Hate. In the last few weeks alone, there has been a series of incidents targeting senior citizens in California, some of which resulted in fatalities, random attacks on Asian residents in New York City, and the most recent shootings that occurred in Atlanta, GA, resulting in the deaths of eight people, six of whom were identified as Asian women.
AUCCCD member Micky Sharma is interviewed in the PBS NewsHour segment, How the Pandemic is Impacting College Students Mental Health
The Association for University and College Counseling Center directors (AUCCCD) strongly condemns the unlawful and unwarranted attacks in Washington, DC, brought upon by a lengthy campaign of manipulation and misinformation. While AUCCCD firmly supports the fundamental first amendment right of the people to peaceably assemble, the desecration of our Capitol, threat to our dedicated political leaders, violence, and misguided anger aimed at a fair election process unwinds the fabric of our Democracy. AUCCCD always opposes violence, obstruction of freedom and the creation of unnecessary fear and anxiety.
