Last updated: April 27
Letter to the Campus Community from Dean of Students Lori Berquam
UW-Madison students, faculty and staff:
The catastrophic loss of life that occurred on the campus of Virginia Tech yesterday has affected the nation, including students, faculty and staff on this campus. Our hearts go out to everyone affected by this horrifying tragedy.
To support the Virginia Tech community, a vigil of remembrance will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, in Room 272 of Bascom Hall. All are welcome to attend and express messages of condolence.
It is understandable for anyone, after an event such as this, to wonder whether a similar situation could occur on our campus.
We can assure you that the university works to provide students, faculty and staff with the support that they need and to address any issues that may arise. The University of Wisconsin Police Department, in conjunction with University Housing and other campus units, has developed a detailed crisis plan to respond to major incidents that might impact the campus community.
Administrators have participated in training to prepare for such an event. The crisis plan is an evolving document, and we will again review it to see if improvements can be made in the wake of this incident. Unfortunately, the best planning and preparation in the world is sometimes not enough to prevent acts of violence.
It is important for students, faculty and staff to play a role in campus safety. If you observe potential risks or have a safety concern, please contact UWPD at (608) 264-2677 or call 911.
If you have questions about the university’s safety plans, or are interested in counseling or crisis support, call the Offices of the Dean of Students at (608) 263-5700 or e-mail dean@odos.wisc.edu.
If you are a faculty or staff member in need of counseling or crisis support, the Employee Assistance Office can be reached at (608) 263-2987 or visit http://eao.wisc.edu/.
Thank you for your concern and continuing efforts to keep our campus safe.
Sincerely,
Lori M. Berquam
Dean of Students
How to show your support for Virginia Tech
University students, faculty and staff across the world are motivated to find ways of supporting Virginia Tech during a time of great tragedy and loss. There are a number of ways the University of Wisconsin-Madison community can get involved, including:
Greek community plans candlelight vigil:
The UW-Madison Greek community has organized a candlelight vigil for this evening (April 23) in remembrance of the victims of the Virginia Tech shootings that occurred one week ago today.
It will begin at 8:15 p.m. at the State Street Mall podium adjacent to Library Mall and is expected to end with a moment of silence at approximately 9 p.m.
Katie Trier of the Panhellenic Council will make brief remarks on behalf of organizer Brian Cho. At the invitation of the Greek community, Dean of Students Lori Berquam and Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz are also scheduled to speak. Cho said members of the Korean-American Student Association (KASA) have been invited to participate in the vigil.
"We hope KASA's participation and our support will reduce the fear of backlash against the Korean student community," said Cho, who is affiliated with the Greek system on campus.
For more information, contact Katie Trier, (847) 894-5198, trier@wisc.edu.
Contribute to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund: Virginia Tech has established the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to aid in the healing process and generate financial support. The fund will be used to cover expenses related to, but not limited to: grief counseling; memorials; communication and comfort expenses; and incidental needs.
To contribute, go to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. It is the only official site for making donations.
Questions?
Lori Berquam
Dean of Students
(608) 263-5700
dean@odos.wisc.edu