April 17, 2007

To the Binghamton University campus community:

We are deeply saddened by the tragic events that took place on the Virginia Tech campus yesterday. Our thoughts and sympathies are with the students and their families, and with the entire Virginia Tech community.

Many Binghamton University students, faculty and staff have been affected by the extraordinary events that occurred at Virginia Tech and are asking questions about safety on our campus. Our Binghamton University police and safety personnel work actively with the Division of Student Affairs to prevent violent incidents. We have a fully prepared, on-campus police force with trained officers and response procedures for emergency situations that apply to all campus buildings. In the aftermath of yesterday’s events at Virginia Tech, we will review all of our emergency and safety procedures as part of our effort to continually update our contingency plans as we strive to improve campus safety.

Lois B. DeFleur

President

Apr 17, 2007

Dear Students,

The tragic incidents at Virginia Tech may seem far away to some, but to many of us, they have hit close to home. Some of you have friends who attend Virginia Tech, others of you may simply feel a tremendous loss and helplessness that is difficult to cope with on your own.

If you are feeling stressed or distressed about these incidents in any way, the University Counseling Center is available to you through appointments or on a walk-in basis. I encourage you to take advantage of the excellent staff there. In addition, there are many publications and resources available to help you on the Counseling Center’s website at  http://counseling.binghamton.edu .

The Counseling Center can be reached by calling 607-777-2772. Please don't hesitate to use these resources available to you. We're here to help.

Sincerely, Rodger Summers

Vice President for Student Affairs