Email to UMass Alumni
September 13, 2001

Dear Members of the UMass Alumni Family,
We are grieving and struggling here on campus to understand the tragedies of the terrorist acts in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania. The night of these terrible events, at least 4,000 students, faculty and staff gathered for a candlelight vigil to support each other. The respectful silence of this large gathering was enormously moving.

Although we cancelled classes and sent home all but essential staff at 1 p.m. September 11, the campus is now open and classes are being held as scheduled. Faculty have been asked to mark these horrible events in their classes by discussion, a moment of silence or other appropriate action.

I wish to bring to your attention that the football game and other athletic events scheduled through Sunday, September 16, 2001 have been cancelled. The Leadership Odyssey 2001, the alumni volunteer conference, also planned for this weekend will be postponed.
Safety for every member of our campus community is of utmost concern, as is providing care for all who need a chance to talk, a shoulder to cry on, help travelling or academic assistance. Faculty, the Dean of Students, staff in the residence halls, Mental Health, University Health Services, Public Safety and members of the Student Government Association are all working to provide the safest and most supportive environment possible. International Programs is staying in close touch with our international students and visiting scholars to provide support and information.

In the coming days and weeks, we will be offering opportunities to discuss these tragedies and their short and long term effects on individuals, this campus, the nation and the world. There will be programs in the residence halls, the Campus Center and classrooms. This special link http://www-unix.oit.umass.edu/~accodev4/september11/, on the campus web site will provide updated information, a schedule of activities and text of the remarks from last night's vigil. We will continue to gather in different ways and in different groups to help each other at this time.

The students on our campus have risen wonderfully to this devastating occasion. They are somber and struggling, but they are also putting their energy into planning ways to help such as a blood drive, a clothing drive, and raising money. Our students are our treasure and our future.

We wanted to take this opportunity to let the members of our extended alumni family know about the campus' response to the horrific tragedy. Also, we offer our deepest sympathy to those of you affected directly by the events of September 11, 2001. Recognizing that we may not have a complete list of email addresses for all alumni, if appropriate please feel free to forward this communication to other members of the UMass family.

Sincerely,
Marcellette G. Williams
Chancellor