By Brianna Wallen
News Editor
The horrific experiences of people in the Middle East — which are displayed in newscasts and on social media — can also have an influence on those in the university’s community as the presence of global conflict persists.
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas, the armed resistance organization, launched an attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of nearly 1,200 people.
The attack cemented rising tensions and evolved into a broader regional conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip.
“I’ve seen innocent children dying, getting bombed at and being starved on Instagram,” nursing major Favour Amayo, a sophomore, said. “At one point, I felt sad every time I opened my phone.”
Amayo said that she has received most of her information about the conflict through Tik Tok and Instagram, a great deal of which was very explicit.
The haunting visuals that appear through social media force viewers to witness the harsh realities of the conflict in the Middle East.
Nursing major Kim Aulac, a freshman, said, “It’s awful just hearing about what is happening there and even more heartbreaking to see.”
According to Gaza Health Ministry, over 42,600 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks, and thousands more are trapped under rubble and threatened by illness since the first attack.
“With Palestine and Israel, the conflict is not good,” biology major Wahid Chowdhury, a freshman, said. “It’s just messed up in general.”
Following the anniversary, Interim President Dwayne Smith released the statement:
“Many members of our community have connections or close relationships to those whose lives have been adversely impacted by events beyond their control. During periods of turmoil, it is important that we support one another.”
Due to the cycle of violence that unraveled in the last year, many students are demanding a change.
Chowdhury believes that the United States should do more to cease the attacks and support innocent civilians.
“The U.S. isn’t contributing at all to help those who aren’t a part of the conflict,” Chowdhury said.
In light of the upcoming presidential election in November, Amayo said that she hopes the next president of the United States can resolve this conflict.
“I hope that this election can bring someone who can make this war stop with both sides getting into a compromise,” Amayo said. “If both sides can get a compromise and get benefits from each other, I think this war has the potential to be stopped.”
Other students are taking such matters into their own hands.
Aulac said that herself and other students can spread awareness and speak out against the war through digital activism.
“We can spread posts on social media and try to bring it up more in conversations,” Aulac said.
Since only time will reveal the outcome of the war or when it will come to an end, many students remain focused on the innocent lives affected by the Israel-Gaza conflict by keeping them in their hearts and minds.
“I pray for them every single day,” Chowdhury said, “and I hope that it gets better soon.”