On the Commons

The Ukraine flag was lit on the University’s three-story, Class of 2020 Gateway sign, beginning February, 2026.

University Response to War in Ukraine

Rev. Joseph Marina, S.J., University president, addressed the crisis happening in Ukraine in an Ash Wednesday message sent to the University community on March 2.

“Let us pray for the Ukrainian people, especially those trapped in the midst of violence and those who are now refugees seeking shelter abroad. Let us be inspired by the courage of Ukrainians as they seek to preserve their freedom and fledgling democracy and by Russians risking their safety to protest against the war,” wrote Father Marina in the message.

The Ukraine flag was lit on the University’s three-story, Class of 2020 Gateway sign to “show our thoughts and prayers are with the Ukrainian people as we join with others across the world to pray peace and freedom are restored to their country and their people once again,” the University said in a statement.

The University also held a Byzantine Catholic prayer service for Ukraine in the Byzantine Rite Chapel in Ciszek Hall on campus in March. Rev. Dr. Eduard Shestak, native Ukrainian Byzantine Catholic priest and theology instructor at Scranton, led the prayer and offered a brief presentation on the current war in Ukraine.

In addition, The Schemel Forum welcomed Fredrik Logevall, Ph.D., Laurence D. Belfer professor of international affairs at Harvard University, to campus for his presentation, “A New Cold War? How to Think About the Struggle in Ukraine,” and Jill Dougherty, former CNN Moscow Bureau Chief, currently teaching a course in “Information Wars” at Georgetown University, for her talk, “Russia and the Post-Truth Society.”

Fredrik Logevall, Ph.D.

Jill Dougherty