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Kacey Beddoes
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University Relations
Date
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2008-05-29
Description
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Memorandum
DATE: May 29, 2008
FROM: Charles W. Steger
TO: The University Community
SUBJECT: Future of the Office of Recovery
and Support
During the summer of 2007, the Office of Recovery and Support was created for the primary purposes of improving two-way communication with and facilitating provision of support services to the families of those who were killed on April 16, 2007, and also to those who were physically injured and their families. The work of the ORS team has been incredibly demanding. Nevertheless, under the leadership of Jay Poole, they have done a truly outstanding job and have strengthened relationships with those who were injured and their families, and with the families that lost loved ones.
With Jay's planned departure from the role of Director in July, I have consulted a number of people and spent considerable time deliberating over the future of that office. We have been advised by colleagues at other institutions that have experienced similar tragedies that those who were directly affected by the events of April 16 will be looking to the university for various types of support for a number of years to come. Moreover, we have been told and have already witnessed ourselves that the families of those who were lost and the injured students will want to maintain long-term ties to the university. Needless to say, we also want to maintain that connection.
Tending to these relationships is consistent with the vision of the Alumni Association, which "aspires to be a primary linkage between the university and its family of alumni across the globe." All of the injured students eventually will become alumni, and we wish to keep those families who lost loved ones engaged with the university (if that is their wish)Ëœin much the same manner that we seek to engage alumni. Therefore, I have determined that it would be logical to move the Office of Recovery and Support under the senior management area of the Vice President for Alumni Relations, effective July 1, 2008.
At that time, Debbie Day will assume responsibilities as Director of the Office of Recovery and Support in addition to her current duties as Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations. I envision that the ORS will continue to exist as a distinct office under Debbie's direction (within the area of the VP for Alumni Relations) until all or most of the injured students have graduatedËœprobably two more yearsËœand then its functions, which will have scaled back naturally, will be absorbed into the Alumni Relations office.
Following is a discussion of the operations of the Office of Recovery and Support as of July 1.
Mission ˆ The mission of the Office of Recovery and Support is unchanged:
To provide supportËœspecifically including improved two-way communication and facilitation of support servicesËœfor the families of those killed, the injured and their families, and others directly affected by the killings at Virginia Tech on April 16, 2007. Further, the ORS is the central campus location to manage broader recovery efforts of the university community, such as commemoration activities.
Personnel ˆ In addition to Debbie Day as Director, the ORS will include:
 Megan Armbruster, who will continue to work with injured students and their families on a full-time basis as she pursues her Ph.D.
 Scott Johnson, who will continue to work with the families of the deceased students on a part-time basis.
 Anna Beth Benningfield, who, as part of the Provost‚s staff, will continue to work with faculty families on a part-time basis.
 Marilyn Hutchins, who will continue to work with injured students and their families and with families of deceased students on a part-time basis.
 Pam Pettry, who will continue to provide full-time administrative support for the office.
At this time, I would also like to express both my personal and the university‚s deepest appreciation to Jay Poole, Ellen Plummer (Deputy Director), Jerry Cain, Lisa Leslie, and Renae Criner for their invaluable contributions as their work with the ORS nears an end.
Office Location ˆ The ORS will continue to occupy its existing space in the CRC for the next year, after which time the office may move into space in the Alumni Center or elsewhere that better suits the needs of the ORS at that time.
In closing, I have great confidence in Debbie, Scott, Megan, Anna Beth, Marilyn, and Pam and deeply appreciate their willingness to serve the university and those who were directly affected by the April 16 tragedy in this most meaningful way as we move forward. And, I know they will appreciate your support.
-end-
Language
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eng
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University Relations (unirel@vt.edu)
Title
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Future of the Office of Recovery and Support
alumni relations
office of recovery and support
ors
-
Document
A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text.
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Contributor
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Brent Jesiek
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Tom Tillar / Virginia Tech Alumni Association
Date
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2007-09-11
Description
An account of the resource
Date: Tue, 11 Sep 2007 12:06:17 -0400
From: Virginia Tech Alumni Association <vatechalumni@vt.edu>
To: ALL ALUMNI SEPT 2007 <vatechalumni@vt.edu>
Subject: A Special Update for Alumni on the April 16th Tragedy...
I write on 9/11, the sixth anniversary of a tragedy that is etched into the memories of the citizens of the world. No act against our country, and indeed any free society, could have been more horrific or more cruel to end so many thousands of innocent lives in the course of a few hours. We remember that day and honor its victims, especially two of our own alumni who perished.
Virginia Tech, not many years later, was the scene of another horrific act, a massacre carried out by one individual, which was unparalleled in our nation's history. Another date that will remain etched in our memories. Our hearts continue to go out to the families of the students and faculty who lost their lives, and to the survivors of that day who suffered both physical and emotional injury. From all that has been learned about the student responsible for the killings, some have said he was intent on mass murder regardless of what anyone else did.
Much has happened to aid in the healing of our university, including its extended family of alumni and supporters everywhere. The poignant moment that first signaled healing was when Poet Nikki Giovanni ended our memorial convocation with the words "We ARE Virginia Tech" and then threw open her arms to the audience as they cheered. Her gesture at that moment, and the response that followed, convinced me we were going to be alright.
Many solemn ceremonies followed that day for weeks and months, and grieving continued. At our Commencement ceremony in May, most parents of the slain students were in attendance and were presented memorial class rings and posthumous degrees. President Charles Steger gave truly the "speech of his career" to comfort the audience and send a message of encouragement. Commencement was a new beginning and a significant moving forward from the tragedy, for many beyond the '07 graduates receiving diplomas.
Through the summer, a number of important events have occurred...
A committee, which I was honored to chair, swiftly designed and then oversaw the construction of a permanent memorial to the victims. It was dedicated on August 19th in the same location on the Drillfield that was the site of a temporary memorial created by students. It continues the theme of 32 Hokie stones honoring those who perished.
President Steger requested that Governor Kaine appoint a special "Review Panel" to investigate the April 16th tragedy and look at all of the ramifications of the incident. The president also appointed three special task forces internally: to look at ways the university might improve building security; an examination of the entire telecommunications infrastructure; and studying the interface of information-sharing among internal and external units and agencies affected by privacy laws surrounding mental health and disciplinary issues.
The Governor's distinguished panel and university task forces have all reported their findings. There are many recommendations that hopefully will help Virginia Tech, as well as similar institutions across the country, in avoiding such a tragedy in the future. Hindsight provides the opportunity to better understand how to identify and treat a person such as the one responsible on our campus, who was obviously very skilled at hiding homicidal tendencies from mental health professionals through most of his life.
The university recently has created an Office of Recovery and Support to offer continued assistance to the families of the victims, as well as the injured survivors. The office offers ongoing assistance to the larger campus community of students, faculty and staff. The University Provost also has appointed a committee to study alternatives for the use of all former classrooms in Norris Hall, and to make recommendations. Norris Hall is no longer used for general purpose classrooms, but has other considerable space dedicated to laboratories and offices. It will not be used as a memorial site or to display any April 16th memorabilia.
At the opening home football game against East Carolina University, we crossed another emotional hurdle and welcomed thousands of alumni back to the campus for the first time since the tragedy. East Carolina opened the game ceremonies with a very generous gift of $100,000 to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund. The crowd responded with genuine "Hokies Respect."
On September 6th, a special "Concert for Virginia Tech" was contributed by the Dave Matthews Band and three other entertainers that the band invited. This concert was held in Lane Stadium and attended by some 50,000 students, faculty, staff and alumni. The concert was offered by Dave Matthews, a Virginia resident, immediately following the tragedy. Its comparable value was in the many millions of dollars. The entertainers accepted no fees or royalties. This nearly five-hour concert perhaps signaled the final event designed to promote healing for our campus and community.
I extend a special commendation to the faculty and staff of our university. From Charles Steger on down, all have had to assume roles never, ever in any job description. They have risen far beyond the call of duty in these months following April 16th to deal with the aftermath of the tragedy. They continued to comfort students, near and far, through the summer. As the fall semester began, they emerged in special ways to welcome both new and returning students.
The university also has launched a special service initiative called VT ENGAGE in remembrance of the victims, and in keeping with the university motto, "That I May Serve". All students, faculty and staff are encouraged to pledge at least 10 hours of service to the project of their choice, with completion by next April. The challenge goal is to perform 300,000 hours of community service. The Alumni Association has responded with a challenge to all alumni to match this service goal with another 300,000 service hours within your communities. Go to <a href="http://www.engage.vt.edu/">www.engage.vt.edu </a> to record your service hour pledge. What better way to demonstrate to the world how Virginia Tech pulls together to set an example for others in the spirit of Ut Prosim?
As performer Dave Matthews neared the end of his concert, he began, in a near whisper, lyrics that the entire crowd echoed over and over for several minutes. He sang, and we chanted softly, what we all truly feel...
<b>"Don't worry about a thing,
cause every little thing's gonna be all right."</b>
Tom Tillar '69
Vice President for Alumni Relations
Language
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eng
Title
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A Special Update for Alumni on the April 16th Tragedy...
alumni
alumni relations
special update
tillar
tom tillar