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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><img width="624" height="144" style="width:6.5in;height:1.5in" id="_x0000_i1026" src="cid:image001.png@01D6B091.BDB17B00" alt="Background pattern
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:#740C2E"> </span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:15.0pt;font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:#740C2E">Need help? Just Ask.</span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:#740C2E">Introducing </span></i></b><b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:#740C2E"><a href="https://ask.mit.edu/"><span style="color:#044A91">ask.mit.edu</span></a>.<i> Where
you can get the help you need, when you need it.</i></span></b><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">Dear fellow undergraduates,</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">For many, this is one of the hardest semesters we’ve ever gone through. MIT provides us with several great resources, but finding them can be difficult, confusing, and exhausting,
especially remotely and without friends to guide us. As workload increases, it’s important to acknowledge that we are </span><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://elemental.medium.com/your-surge-capacity-is-depleted-it-s-why-you-feel-awful-de285d542f4c"><span style="color:#0D4299">not
operating at our usual capacity</span></a><span style="color:black">, which makes asking for help that much harder. We in the UA and the Office of Student Wellbeing believe that you shouldn’t have to think about where to turn for help. </span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14.0pt;font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">We are extremely excited to share with you a
<b>new support resource for all MIT students, </b></span><b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://ask.mit.edu/"><span style="color:#0D4299">ask.mit.edu</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">.
If you need help, whether academic or personal, you should just <i>ask</i>, and we will help you get to the right resource. This is a project that was done in collaboration with student representatives of the UA, with the goal of reducing barriers to access
support at MIT during this hybrid environment and beyond. </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">After you ask your question, a Student Support and Wellbeing faculty member will respond within one business day and will stay in touch with you to ensure your question gets answered
or you get referred to the right campus resource. Students are encouraged to reach out to
</span><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="http://ask.mit.edu/"><span style="color:#044A91">ask.mit.edu</span></a><i><span style="color:#2D4F8C"> </span></i><span style="color:black">with questions related to finding support at MIT, on topics
ranging from academics to relationships to COVID. There is no “wrong” question—please just <i>ask.</i></span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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</span><span style="font-family:-webkit-standard"><img border="0" width="624" height="114" style="width:6.5in;height:1.1875in" id="_x0000_i1025" src="cid:image002.png@01D6B091.BDB17B00" alt="Text
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black"> </span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:#740C2E">Other Resources</span></b><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">Beyond <i>ask</i>, here are some other resources to keep in mind: </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://studentlife.mit.edu/support/support-services"><span style="color:#0D4299">https://studentlife.mit.edu/support/support-services</span></a> has a comprehensive list of
<b>academic, personal, and 24/7 resources</b>.</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://medical.mit.edu/services/mental-health-counseling"><span style="color:#0D4299">Mental Health & Counseling</span></a> is available for <b>telehealth calls</b> for both on and off-campus students.
If you are in another state or country, referrals are available for a local clinician. </span><o:p></o:p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif">Support <a href="https://medical.mit.edu/community/support-groups"><span style="color:#0D4299">group sessions</span></a> are also available. </span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://medical.mit.edu/community"><span style="color:#0D4299">Programs</span></a> for specific health and wellness topics (including substance use, stress reduction, and sleep) are also being offered. </span><o:p></o:p></li></ul>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif">For <b>academic support</b>, the <a href="https://ome.mit.edu/programs-services/talented-scholars-resource-room-tsr2"><span style="color:#0D4299">Talented Scholars Resource Room (TSR^2)</span></a> is offering virtual
support focused on GIR’s. Explore for weekly P-set nights, review sessions, one-on-one appointments, and peer connection!</span><o:p></o:p>
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<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif">MIT is hard enough without the added layer of being remote. This resource is a great way to connect to other students, especially first-years. </span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif">Honor societies, like Tau Beta Pi, also offer <a href="https://stuff.mit.edu/activities/tbp/tutoring.shtml"><span style="color:#0D4299">free tutoring services</span></a> for undergraduates. </span><o:p></o:p></li></ul>
</li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif">Roughly 11% of MIT students say they go to bed hungry at least 1 night out of 7 because they don’t have enough money for food. No student should go hungry or feel they need to be “really hungry” to ask for help.
No problem is too small.</span><o:p></o:p>
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<li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://studentlife.mit.edu/s3/money-food-resources"><span style="color:#0D4299">Money and food resources</span></a></span></b><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"> for students in need, including
info about emergency funds, meal request forms, and the Accessing Resources MIT (ARM Coalition)</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOnZtr_8zPpgrVhFhnANAP8RSPfd6ORHxyXphSlz1jU1HEAQ/viewform" title="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScOnZtr_8zPpgrVhFhnANAP8RSPfd6ORHxyXphSlz1jU1HEAQ/viewform"><span style="color:#0D4299">Family
food grants</span></a> which provides an easy form for graduate students to make requests for food</span><o:p></o:p></li><li class="MsoNormal" style="color:black;mso-list:l0 level2 lfo1;vertical-align:baseline">
<span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif"><a href="https://studentlife.mit.edu/dining" title="https://studentlife.mit.edu/dining"><span style="color:#0D4299">MIT Dining Info</span></a> for information about MIT Dining, local grocery stores, and shuttles</span><o:p></o:p></li></ul>
</li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">Please also feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions at
<a href="mailto:ua-wellness-chairs@mit.edu">ua-wellness-chairs@mit.edu</a>.</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black"> </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="vertical-align:baseline"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">Sincerely,</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">Andie Maloney and Olivia Valle</span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Proxima Nova",serif;color:black">Chairs of the UA Committee on Student Support and Wellness </span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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