April 16, 2007

University of Washington President Mark A. Emmert sent this message to students, faculty and staff in the wake of Monday's killings on the Virginia Tech campus.

Dear Friends:

Our entire University of Washington community is deeply saddened by today's deadly attack at Virginia Tech. As VT President Charles Steger said, it is a tragedy of monumental proportions. Our hearts go out to the families and friends of those who were killed this morning, and to the entire Virginia Tech community.

The news of the terrible shootings in Blacksburg this morning devastatingly struck home to all of us, especially in the aftermath of Rebecca Griego's tragic murder on our own campus two weeks ago. Early reports—though still unconfirmed at this time—indicate that the shooting began from another instance of relationship violence, with which we on this campus are all too familiar.

In a tragic way, our awareness of the horrific nature of partnership violence was heightened dramatically two weeks ago. Now, it is magnified even more so. As a society and as a community, we need to continue to address issues of how violence can erupt in a relationship and identify resources to help those who may be prone to acts of violence, as well as to take even greater measures to protect potential victims of such violence. We are confronting a national epidemic of individuals doing harm to someone they know, and we must learn more about its root causes and how it can be stopped.

The University's counseling services and programs remain accessible to all who want assistance in coping with these matters. Students can contact the Counseling Center by calling 206-543-1240 or by stopping by the Center at 401 Schmitz Hall. Faculty and Staff may contact CARELINK at 866-598-3978. The services of Hall Health’s Mental Health Clinic are also available and can be accessed by calling 206-543-5030.

The Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Information Service (SARIS) is also available to students seeking information about sexual assault and relationship violence. SARIS can be contacted via telephone at 206-685-HELP or via email at saris@u.washington.edu. In addition, the Women's Center in Cunningham Hall has a wealth of resources for violence prevention and can be reached at 206-685-1090. Men who have concerns or mixed feelings about their behaviors toward their partner can contact the Men's Domestic Abuse Check-Up program at 1-800-MEN-1089. To learn more about this program, visit their website at: http://depts.washington.edu/mcheckup/.

Today's tragic event also serves as a reminder of the critical importance of our campus safety efforts. If you notice any suspicious behavior on campus, please contact UWPD at 206-543-9331. Call 911 immediately (Harborview Medical Center only call 5555) to report any situation that you believe may result in harm to yourself or others.

These are the saddest of times, and we mourn those who have lost their precious lives.

Sincerely,

Mark A. Emmert
President