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People of SFU
SFU professor shares experience living and teaching in war-torn Ukraine
Svitlana Matviyenko鈥檚 students know that if an air-raid siren sounds during their class, she will have to take cover. The 尤物视频 (SFU) communication professor is teaching her theory of communication graduate seminar remotely this term, after returning home to Ukraine last February to care for her mother.
Fortunately, her home town of Kamyanets-Podilsky鈥揳 European historical hub and UNECSO World Heritage site in western Ukraine鈥攊s considered relatively safe. The town has mostly maintained its infrastructure despite a few small air strikes and has internet, although it is sometimes intermittent.
When Russia attacked Ukraine a month ago, Matviyenko decided to stay near her parents. "I think if I were back in Canada I would be going crazy with worry,鈥� she says. 鈥淔rom here, I can talk and write about the situation, which I do on a daily basis. Somehow, I feel like this is where I need to be."
Matviyenko鈥檚 research and writing focuses on topics such as the political economy of information, social media, mis/disinformation, resistance and mobilization, Soviet and post-Soviet politics, and nuclear cultures. She is the Associate Director of , an interdisciplinary group of diverse scholars and stakeholders from around the world seeking to counter mis/disinformation and support democracy.
Throughout the invasion, Matviyenko has been posting updates on has kept a and is working on a book about her experiences. She also has a growing list of media requests and her commentary has been featured on , in the and syndicated across Canada.
One of her recent Tweets describes the relief of hearing explosions鈥� however this time from the Ukrainian Army training nearby.
While the ordeal has been extremely stressful鈥攅specially experiencing air raid sirens, dealing with uncertainty and staying informed while staying calm, Matviyenko acknowledges this is an important learning opportunity for her students, and an important time in history to document.
鈥淭he situation lends itself too well to themes we explore in communication studies such as propaganda, the militarization of information and disinformation鈥攁 very enriching learning opportunity for my students. Professionally, as a scholar, it is a chance to lend my voice to the narrative and to be a first-hand witness to history. Personally, I am caring for my parents, friends and neighbours, and I feel a new urgency to get things done.鈥�