Clermont Students React to Russian Invasion of Ukraine
Morgan Gelter
Alie Edmondson
Freshman
Biological Sciences
I was at home with my mom and we heard on the news about the whole Russia/Ukraine conflict. One of her friends is from Ukraine, so we just knew it was really upsetting. Her mom and dad can’t even come over because they don’t have a visa or anything and the government’s not allowing it. They are having to stay. Her dad is having to go across other borders to get medicine so it’s just really upsetting that that’s happening over there. I just hope they do better over there soon. I just hope it all ends.
Olivia Busemeyer
Freshman
Pre-Physical Therapy
It’s really upsetting for anybody involved. I think on both sides there’s a lot of animosity. You see all the destruction of all these cities. On the news the other day, outside a movie theater, there were kids inside and they bombed them. People from Russia are protesting and getting arrested. It’s just sad on all sides and I think it’s important for us to get involved if we can, in any way. Even if it’s not actually going to war. I don’t want that for anybody if you don’t have to. If you can donate, Matthew 25 is doing a lot of clothing donations and supplies. I know a bunch of organizations are taking monetary donations, so I think that’s important for right now.
Alex Brandhorst
Freshman
Biological Sciences
Well, I just knew from the start of hearing it – it’s not something that should be happening. It’s wrong that Russia is invading Ukraine. It didn’t really hit me how bad it was until I saw a video of some guy videoing himself when a bomb hits a building right behind him. They were just bombing. And it really felt like out of nowhere because I haven’t been paying attention to foreign affairs or anything going on. I was like ‘What the heck is happening?’
Joe Donohoe
Sophomore
Biological Sciences
To start off, I thought it was kind of a little bit of a power grab between Russia and Ukraine. But, the more I looked into it, the more I saw it just can’t really be justified. Vladmir Putin… you can just tell he’s really thirsty for power and targeting civilians and cities. You just can’t justify that kind of stuff.
Rebecca Center
Junior
Pre-Pharmacy
It’s certainly a sad time, but I wouldn’t say it wasn’t predicted. Putin has been really getting out there while we’ve all been staring at it in hopes that it goes. Putin has made his move and it’s sad. But, also I’m in disbelief for how strong Ukraine has been. They don’t really have many resources in terms of fighting back. I wish we could do a lot more than sanctioning and providing monetary support for them. Putin will nuke them. Although it is, for now, a threat, he does have nukes and I do think his threats are valid. We’re waiting until he hits one of our huge allies like maybe Poland or France.
Amaya Kennedy
Sophomore
Medical Sciences
I hope that situation is able to be resolved quickly, but to where it won’t happen again any time soon. Obviously, I feel bad for Ukraine because that was unsolicited, there was no instigation, it’s just Russia attacking. On the other hand, I do feel bad for the people who live here – or anywhere else for that matter – who are Russian. I was in West Chester the other day and I saw there was a European shop with Russian goods. Both signs had Russia crossed out. On one hand, I understand that – because what Russia did was horrible – but, on the other hand, you’re including people who had nothing to do with it from Russia. It’s like if you came to anybody from German descent – anyone from German descent at all – and just completely said they were a bad person because of what happened in World War II. Just because they’re German doesn’t mean they supported it. And it’s the same kind of thing here. Realistically, I just hope that it ends quickly and to a degree to where, at least for now, they won’t do it again.
