The Polytechnic Editorial Board is saddened to hear of the loss of lives in the tragic terrorist attacks that occurred in Paris and Beirut this past week. We extend our sincerest condolences to the families and friends who lost loved ones in the harrowing attacks.

It is appalling how willing some humans are to attack, maim, and murder their brethren who are, if not of the same nationality, of mankind. We find the hatred spewed by terrorist groups, like ISIS, Al Qaeda, the Taliban, Hezbollah, and Hamas inhuman, reprehensible, and unforgivable. We commend the governments that have put forth varieties of efforts to protect their citizens in hopes of making the world a safer place for all.

Through students’ responses and President Jackson’s emergency Town Hall Meeting, it is apparent that the entire RPI community stands in solidarity with countries impacted by the attacks. If you’re interested in contributing to relief efforts in Paris or Beirut, we recommend donating to the French Red Cross or to the Mercy Corps. Donations can be made to the French Red Cross by visiting http://poly.news/s/qt5x0/; and donations to the Mercy Corps can be made by visiting http://poly.news/s/12t3y/. These are only a small subset of the hundreds of organizations that have committed to helping survivors and victims of the attacks; we offer support to these aid groups for providing the immediate relief to those who need it.