Message from President Gretchen M. Bataille in response to the Virginia Tech tragedy, April 16, 2007

The shocking and tragic events unfolding at Virginia Tech today remind us that no individual or community is totally immune to random acts of violence. 

Our hearts go out to victims and their families and to the members of the Virginia Tech campus family who are deeply shaken by the worst campus shooting in the nation's history.  

As we continue to learn about what happened, I know each of us wishes to express our condolences to the university students, faculty, staff and other community members in Blacksburg.

Beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow (April 17), sympathy cards will be available in the University Union's One O'Clock Lounge for our community members to sign. The cards will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Thursday and from 9 a.m. to noon Friday. The Dean of Students office will mail the cards to our colleagues.

Troubling events like this naturally lead us to question our own safety and to think "what if."

I want to assure you that UNT seeks to create a safe campus environment for our community each and every day. Our police force is extensively trained and ever vigilant. We take seriously any threats made against members of our community and our campus. Emergency call boxes are located across campus and immediately connect to the Police Department.

However, the best preparations and security measures in the world rarely prevent random acts of violence. It is important that we remain aware of both our surroundings and of our feelings of well being. We, in many ways, are a large family. Please watch out for each other as well as yourselves.

Should you, or someone you know, need help please use the resources available on campus.

* Students may speak with a counselor through the Counseling and Testing Center, which now is located in Chestnut Hall, Suite 311. This service is free.

The center is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays and may be reached by calling 940.565.2741. Learn more at http://www.unt.edu/cat/.

* Faculty and staff may call the Employee Assistance Program at 800.343.3822 to schedule free counseling. Learn more at http://www.hr.unt.edu/main/ViewPage.php?cid=89.

* The Goolsby Chapel is open and available for reflection and prayer from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday. Learn more at www.unt.edu/chapel.

Please take care of yourselves and join me in keeping our colleagues in our hearts.

Gretchen M. Bataille, president