April 17, 2007

Related:CSU Vigil Honors Virginia Tech Victims | Vigil photos

 

To our campus community:

By now you have all heard about the unspeakable horrors that have transpired at Virginia Tech, events that will forever change that campus and the families connected to that university. Our hearts and prayers go out to those affected by this tragedy.

As we are also a college campus, there is a connection here, and many of us are feeling unsettled in our own ways.

Students are planning a brief remembrance program Thursday at 1 p.m. at the clock tower to honor the Virginia Tech victims. Please join our students if you can.

While we cannot anticipate everything, unfortunately, I write today to also assure you that Columbus State University has emergency action plans in place to deal with serious incidents on campus and we continually look at those plans to do everything we can to ensure the safety of our students, faculty and staff.

That plan is incorporated into the training of our university police officers and, in conjunction with the university system and local authorities, is frequently updated and evaluated. After the tragedy in Virginia, we will use this opportunity to again do a comprehensive review of safety procedures for all of our students, including the RiverPark campus, both housing and academic facilities.

As terrible as the events of yesterday were for all of us, it is a clear warning signal that all our assumptions of safety have to be carefully re-examined.

Thousands of parents entrust us all with the care of their children. We must never forget the importance of that responsibility and the work that each of us can do to ensure the safety of our campus.

Frank Brown
CSU President