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April 25, 2007 Dear Radford University Community: I am so proud of the many ways the Radford University community has responded to support our friends and colleagues at Virginia Tech in their time of need. We have mourned with them, we have cried with them, and we have supported them with our presence, our gifts and our prayers. And our support will continue in the days ahead. Seven professional staff members from the Department of Student Activities and five Radford University students have volunteered to work at Squires Student Center at Virginia Tech to provide relief for VT staff members. The RU contingent will assist with operations and at the information desk, graduate life center, chapel, and game rooms. Our residence halls welcomed several Virginia state troopers who needed lodging while assisting with the investigation at Virginia Tech. Our counseling center staff remains on standby to assist anyone in need. The center, located in the basement of Tyler Hall, is a resource for students, faculty and staff as needed. They can be reached by phone at 540-831-5226. Last Thursday night, three days after the tragic deaths of students and faculty at Virginia Tech, we held a candlelight vigil at the Dedmon Center where we came together as a community to console and comfort one another. Virginia Attorney General Bob McDonnell joined us for the vigil and inspired us with stories about his visits with the shooting survivors who, while saddened, showed an indomitable spirit that will not be diminished by these acts of violence. Bob told me afterward that the caring and strength shown by our students, and college students from campuses across Virginia, give him reason to be optimistic that the future of the Commonwealth is bright with the promise of a new generation of leaders. I agree. I told the assembly of more than 500 people that I consider it a great privilege to be President of Radford University, and that I consider our student body to be second to none in the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the vigil, I wore a Virginia Tech pin and orange ribbon to show my support for the Hokie Nation, but I also made it a point to wear Highlander Red. Why? Because I wanted everyone to know that, even in the wake of this senseless violence that hit so close to home, my focus was, as it always should be, on this Radford University campus community and particularly on Radford University students. I need to do everything within my power to ensure that our students’ needs are being met and that our campus is as safe and secure as it possibly can be. After a review of our own emergency response plan, we have decided to make several changes. We will install a system of warning sirens on campus in addition to an outdoor public address system that will be able to broadcast emergency alerts and other information. We plan to have this addition to our emergency communication system in place before the beginning of fall semester. We are also in the process of evaluating a notification system that will have the capability of sending alerts to everyone in our database via a variety of communication devices, such as text messages; calls placed to cell phones and land lines; e-mails, etc. We are continuing discussions about revisions to our emergency response plan, lockdown protocols and evacuation procedures. Tomorrow, Thursday, April 26, we are hosting, through the Radford University Multicultural and International Student Services, a forum focusing on promoting unity after tragedy. This forum is to remind everyone of the importance of being respectful to others in this time of elevated stress. I offer my heartfelt thanks to all members of our Radford University community for your expressions of kindness, care and concern, for your hard work, and your compassion. Your selfless desire to support and help others is an inspiration that should set an example for all as we heal and move forward as a community. I am truly proud to be a part of the Radford University family! Sincerely, Penelope W. Kyle
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