On behalf of every member of the Florida State University family, I extend my support and deepest sympathy to Virginia Tech and to all of the families affected.

—T.K. Wetherell
FSU President

FSU News

FSU mourns tragedy at Virginia Tech

President Wetherell's message
Resources for FSU students
In case of emergency
Contributions to Virginia Tech

The Florida State University community gathered last week on Landis Green at a candlelight vigil organized by students to mourn the tragedy at Virginia Tech. To honor and support the unconquered and courageous spirit of the Hokie Nation, FSU's Unconquered statue at the University Center was lit. This is the first time the statue has been illuminated to mark an event beyond the FSU campus.

President Wetherell's message
On behalf of every member of the Florida State University family, I extend my support and deepest sympathy to Virginia Tech and to all of the families affected. We are shocked and deeply saddened at this terrible tragedy, which reaches all of us in higher education. Such an attack is especially cruel when it robs talented young people of a promising future.

Resources for FSU students
We are gathering our resources to support the emotional needs of our own campus at this trying time, and our Victim Advocate Program, University Counseling Center and Dean of Students office are available for students as needed.

The American Psychological Association's Help Center, with input from college counseling centers, has created an excellent document that gives students tips on dealing with personal stress they may be feeling in the aftermath of the tragedy.

In case of emergency
Though no campus community can be completely protected from such a crime, Florida State University constantly plans for just such events and has put into place seven proactive law enforcement programs to reinforce the safety of our university's students, faculty, staff and visitors.

The FSU Police Department holds mock disaster drills with local law enforcement agencies, and recently held a drill that involved a shooting on campus to examine policies and best practices. The drill utilized students and staff to provide a realistic test. These drills are conducted annually.

The department has established a Threat Assessment Team, a special Situation Resolution Team, a Crisis Management Unit, training seminars with other university police chiefs, and much more. The campus has installed a new public address alert system that can be heard throughout the campus to notify people immediately of any dangerous situation. Grids of campus streets have been established to make it easier to quickly cordon off a specific area. And more than 350 blue light emergency phones spread across campus can be easily accessed to contact the police.

The university also has the ability to contact every student, faculty member and employee instantly through Web notification, text message and direct e-mail, and activates an emergency telephone number, 644-INFO, in a crisis.

Anyone who needs to report an emergency on campus should call the university police at 850-644-1234.

Contributions to Virginia Tech
Many at FSU have asked how to send memorial gifts to Virginia Tech. Memorial gifts, payable to the "Virginia Tech Foundation," designated specifically for the "Virginia Tech Family Fund," should be mailed to University Development, 902 Prices Fork Road (0336), Blacksburg, VA 24061. For more information, visit the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund Web page.

In addition, Hokiesports (www.hokiesports.com) is collecting photographs of memorials, vigils and other "Hokie Spirit" events around the world to share with the Hokie Nation. To contribute, please e-mail photographs to hokipoki@vt.edu, with the subject "Hokie Spirit."

T.K. Wetherell, President, Florida State University

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