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President Haenicke responds to Virginia tragedy
April 17, 2007
KALAMAZOO--In the hours immediately following yesterday's
tragedy at Virginia Tech, during which 33 people were killed,
Dr. Diether Haenicke, interim president of Western Michigan University,
moved to reassure the WMU community.
In an e-mail message sent Monday afternoon, Haenicke also
called upon all faculty and staff members to extend "prayers
and support" to colleagues at "our sister institution."
The full text of the president's message follows.
Dear Colleagues:
Today we all have watched in shock the horrifying news coming
from Virginia Tech. While everyone in our larger community is
devastated by the reports, I think that those of us who live
and work on a college campus observe what has happened with a
particular sense of horror. We feel with our colleagues throughout
the country that the sense of safety on our campuses and our
world of collegial community have been deeply violated.
- I will review immediately all procedures that are in place
at WMU for protecting our community from harm. The physical safety
of our students, our faculty and our staff are always our highest
concern.
- Each one of us will assure our students that we care for
their safety.
- We will not waver in our concern to provide the highest possible
level of security for all of us.
I know you will join me in reaching out to our friends and
colleagues at Virginia Tech as we offer them our prayers and
support while they are moving through the aftermath of this unspeakable
tragedy. Our trustees are standing firmly with us as we extend
our condolences to our sister institution. At moments such as
these we are all one community.
Diether Haenicke
Interim President and President Emeritus
Western Michigan University
Related story
Virginia Tech book of condolences available
for signing
Flags lowered as mark of respect for Virginia
Tech victims
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, (269) 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu
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