To: Saint Mary’s University Community
From: Brother Louis DeThomasis, FSC, Chancellor
Date: April 18, 2007
We are all profoundly saddened to hear the tragic news from Virginia Tech. As a university community, we extend our condolences to all those impacted by this horrific event. I know we will all continue to pray and support all victims involved with this tragedy.
When something as monumental as this occurs, we must all devote special attention to the possibility that such an event could happen in our own community. The university currently has in place protocols and committees to address and respond to such events. We are using this opportunity to be even more attentive and vigilant in addressing and responding to safety concerns on our campuses.
The safety of our students, faculty and staff is of paramount importance to this university. As such, we developed an emergency response plan several years ago. We will continue to plan for the safety of our campus communities and implement actions that will increase safety on our campuses.
On the Winona campus, a special committee has already met today to review the protocols and precautions necessary for increased safety on that campus. I have asked Ann Merchlewitz, Vice President and General Counsel, and Chris Kendall, Vice President for Student Development, to lead this committee. On the Twin Cities campus, Jim Bedtke, Vice President for Graduate and Professional Programs, will work with appropriate staff to review safety protocols and precautions for that campus. We have already taken specific actions to enhance our current safety procedures. We anticipate many more additional concrete directives to be recommended. I invite any of you in our Saint Mary’s community to give us any input so that we may share this with the committee.
May God bless the faculty, staff and students at Virginia Tech and their families. |
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