By Amir Gilat

HAIFA, July 30—Shalom to all.

As the third week of the attack on the north unfolds, we proceed to update you on all the events occurring these days in the University of Haifa Starting today, we will be sending the updates every other day.

University under attack: studying virtually

The halt of academic activities for the summer semester, at the University of Haifa, has led to the development of an e-learning portal. This novelty will allow the students of the Multi-Disciplinary Studies Department to carry on with their studies while remaining safely at home.

The e-learning portal allows the students to proceed with their study routine and lesson plans without letting the hectic security situation get in the way.

The department's lecturers organized immediately, with the outbreak of this war, in order to tape the lessons which were originally meant to be held in the classrooms. This footage will soon be uploaded on the Internet for the use of the students. "Students can enter the classes they have on their syllabus through the e-learning portal. If a student has questions, he/she may approach his/her professor through the on-line forum, available for this use.

This forum also allows the students to see whether their friends are on-line at any given time, and through it, to communicate with one another" says Dr. Onn Winkler, head of the Multi-Disciplinary Studies Department. "The objective was to prevent the students from missing out on an entire semester. This is the perfect solution for the situation we have been stranded in", he said.

The lessons in their virtual interactive format allow the students to continue their studies without delay, while carrying on consistent correspondence with their professors and gaining electronic access to their complete class material, including all books and articles. 

These days the classes are being video-taped simultaneously by five cameras, directed at five different professors.

Sixty eight classes will be available for viewing, in the coming days, through the e-learning portal managed by the University of Haifa .

Support to the University

Professor Wilfried Müller, Rector of the University of Bremen , wrote a letter of support in which he conveyed his deep concern about the rocket attacks on Haifa and expressing his esteem for the University of Haifa . "I wish to show full support. We are all hopeful that the war in the north will end shortly and that life will return to normal and more peaceful days" he wrote.

Trauma may be prevented and treated

"Experiencing trauma should not be taken lightly and depends on different factors, such as, the geographical proximity from the actual location of the incident, the level of danger to which the person was exposed, and the person's state of health and personality" state Professor Marilyn Safir and Dr. Helene Wallach of the Department of Psychology in the University of Haifa.

The researchers say that it is especially important to help these people see things in a logical way. "It is possible to strengthen the feeling of control by planning actions with different scenarios and by turning one’s going into a shelter or protected space into a less scary experience; for instance, by practicing when there is no alarm."

When children are involved, the two experts advise parents to be calm themselves and demonstrate self-control.

Furthermore, they suggest turning the time spent in a secure place into a pleasant experience, where the children can play and have fun.

"At times, a traumatic situation might evolve into a 'post-traumatic syndrome', characterized by a prolonged trauma experience after an incident that causes one to stop functioning effectively", the experts explain. "People with PSTD tend to become withdrawn, to respond radically, to refrain from going to places that remind them of the trauma, to experience it anew and to feel depressed and anxious.  People who respond in this manner must receive professional help".

They emphasize that attention has to be paid to normative feelings, but these do not indicate trauma, such as over stimulation, overreaction to noise, being touchy, decreased concentration, insomnia or loss of appetite.

University’s Eshkol Tower Becomes an Israeli Flag Every Night

In light of the security situation, the University of Haifa has decided to turn its main building atop the Carmel mountain  into the flag of Israel.. In doing so, the University of Haifa shows its support of the residents of Haifa , Northern Israel , and of the Israel Defense Forces.

Every night, a lighting system in the windows of the 30-floor tower is turned on so as to create the form of the national flag. The “flag of lights" that waves from the building can be seen from quite a distance.

Let us hope for a quiet night,

We will be back with an update on Tuesday.

Amir Gilat  is the head of communication and media relations  for the University of Haifa's Department of External Affairs.