To the Radford University Community:

We all know how closely interwoven our university is with Virginia Tech. Our students socialize and study together. Our faculty work together, exchanging ideas on teaching, research, the arts and ways to improve the quality of life in Southwest Virginia . Many faculty couples include a professor at each institution. In fact, for over 20 years we were part of Virginia Tech ( Radford College was the women’s division of Virginia Polytechnic Institute). I know many of our faculty and staff have children enrolled at Virginia Tech. I know also the reverse is true, that Virginia Tech employees have children pursuing their educations at Radford.

There is much common ground to be found between two complementary institutions, located just 15 miles apart. There is a great deal of mutual interest and mutual respect.

Now, we grieve together, following tragic acts of violence that have been well-documented by the global media. We cannot know the full measure of pain felt by those families and friends who lost loved ones this week, but we hurt nonetheless.

I know you join me in extending compassion, sympathy and support for our friends, colleagues and neighbors at Virginia Tech. Our thoughts and prayers are with them as they begin the long process of healing and growing stronger.

As this tragedy unfolded, we offered support and assistance to Virginia Tech and continue to stand ready to help in any way possible.  We responded to the events of April 16 by sending RU police officers to support the VT police. We have offered to provide counseling support services as needed to Virginia Tech. We are providing residence hall and Selu Conservancy housing to state police officers who are assisting at Virginia Tech with the investigation.

I know our students, faculty and staff have traveled to Blacksburg to participate in vigils and prayer services. We provided candles for Tuesday night’s candlelight vigil on the Drillfield, and sent flowers to Tuesday afternoon’s memorial convocation in Cassell Coliseum.

One RU student group has created a 20-foot banner with both schools’ logos, the words “RU Cares,” and handwritten and heartfelt messages from our students. This banner, and another 11 smaller banners, will be delivered to the Tech campus as a show of solidarity.

We cancelled classes and several major events on Tuesday, April 17, to provide our campus community with time to mourn, to reflect on these heinous events, to seek support services as needed and to talk with friends and loved ones.

In crises like these, community and communication are vital. I would encourage all to take advantage of counseling and psychological services available.

Our counseling center located in the basement of Tyler Hall will observe extended hours over the next several days in response to the needs of the RU Community. Call them at 540-831-5226, or call these numbers for around-the-clock counseling assistance: 888-717-3333 or 800-284-8898.

The counseling center also is a resource for faculty and can provide advice and basic information on dealing with crises and coping with stress.

I have been in contact with President Steger and have offered him all of the support and resources that Radford University has available to assist the Virginia Tech community as it begins the process of healing.

We will continue to look for ways to support our friends at Virginia Tech in their time of need, and also to cope with the reverberations on our own campus.

We will take this opportunity to review and update, if necessary, our own established emergency response plan and security procedures. This analysis is an ongoing process as we continually search for ways to take fullest advantage of current technology and best practice standards.

On Tuesday, we held our own vigils at several campus locations in conjunction with television broadcasts of the Convocation on the Virginia Tech campus, and we had a much larger turnout than expected. I think that all of us gained a deeper awareness of how fragile life is and how horrific events like these can happen at any time and place.

The strength of community we are experiencing in this time of great suffering is a beacon of hope that shines through. Let us continue to comfort and care for one another as we look forward to a more peaceful time ahead.

Sincerely,

Penelope W. Kyle