SGU Admissions Dean
09-09-2004, 01:28 AM
For some reason that thread was locked so I have started another....
To name your “information message” Student Casualties, attacks, rioting is an act of unmitigated cruelty to the loved ones of students at the University. In the aftermath of this category four hurricane, we need to stay calm, discover facts, and disseminate true information rationally. This is not spin. This is reality.
Yes, there have been reports of a dead body found in the water. This body has not been identified as a medical student. We have no reports of students injured or dead. If, in fact, we were to learn of injuries or deaths among the student population, the families would be notified immediately and afterwards the student population.
It is a disservice to pepper this forum with rumors and innuendo. The only effect of coming onto a forum like this, which is filled with nervous and anxious parents and loved ones, and posting a mixture of rumors with misaligned facts (that always abound in any emergency situation) is to fill loved ones with totally unnecessary anxiety. It is cruel. This administration prides itself on being truthful and caring at all times, especially during rare emergencies, and will continue to be just so throughout this current emergency.
There are reports of armed looting in the capital and in the supermarkets. However, we have not heard of students being harmed, nor have there been looters or strangers on campus. The majority of the students are on the True Blue campus where there is water, food, and shelter, and security guards as well as University administrators.
University officials have been in contact with the U.S. State Department. Late yesterday, they were advised that personnel will be dispatched to Grenada later today, either by boat or plane, to assist in police activities as well as to look after the interests of U.S. citizens in Grenada.
Of course there is damage to the buildings after a Category 4 hurricane. However, as far as we can tell at the moment, there is no structural damage and we will have engineers assessing the buildings just as soon as possible.
Administrators are on campus, have met with students, will meet with students again later today, have sorted people into living spaces, deployed vehicles off campus to find students and bring them to campus, have fed the students and provided water, have provided open telephone lines and encouraged students to call home, have communicated with administrators in Grenada, St. Vincent and the U.S., are dealing with the intricacies of returning power to the campus safely (which should begin tomorrow), are overseeing security guards at the True Blue Campus and sent guards to the Grand Anse Campus even though that campus was evacuated Monday night. Your misleading complaint of “no medical attention” is confusing because no one is in need of medical attention and it will be provided should it become necessary. Simply making your statement just engenders fear.
Of course the University wishes to resume studies as soon as it is safely possible. The majority of the students at yesterday’s meeting wanted this as well. We will do what we can and are assessing this as we dig out from under Ivan's effect.
It is incumbent upon each of us in a time of disaster to find out what we can, disseminate what we know in a rational fashion, and to refrain from uncorroborated scary statements.
To name your “information message” Student Casualties, attacks, rioting is an act of unmitigated cruelty to the loved ones of students at the University. In the aftermath of this category four hurricane, we need to stay calm, discover facts, and disseminate true information rationally. This is not spin. This is reality.
Yes, there have been reports of a dead body found in the water. This body has not been identified as a medical student. We have no reports of students injured or dead. If, in fact, we were to learn of injuries or deaths among the student population, the families would be notified immediately and afterwards the student population.
It is a disservice to pepper this forum with rumors and innuendo. The only effect of coming onto a forum like this, which is filled with nervous and anxious parents and loved ones, and posting a mixture of rumors with misaligned facts (that always abound in any emergency situation) is to fill loved ones with totally unnecessary anxiety. It is cruel. This administration prides itself on being truthful and caring at all times, especially during rare emergencies, and will continue to be just so throughout this current emergency.
There are reports of armed looting in the capital and in the supermarkets. However, we have not heard of students being harmed, nor have there been looters or strangers on campus. The majority of the students are on the True Blue campus where there is water, food, and shelter, and security guards as well as University administrators.
University officials have been in contact with the U.S. State Department. Late yesterday, they were advised that personnel will be dispatched to Grenada later today, either by boat or plane, to assist in police activities as well as to look after the interests of U.S. citizens in Grenada.
Of course there is damage to the buildings after a Category 4 hurricane. However, as far as we can tell at the moment, there is no structural damage and we will have engineers assessing the buildings just as soon as possible.
Administrators are on campus, have met with students, will meet with students again later today, have sorted people into living spaces, deployed vehicles off campus to find students and bring them to campus, have fed the students and provided water, have provided open telephone lines and encouraged students to call home, have communicated with administrators in Grenada, St. Vincent and the U.S., are dealing with the intricacies of returning power to the campus safely (which should begin tomorrow), are overseeing security guards at the True Blue Campus and sent guards to the Grand Anse Campus even though that campus was evacuated Monday night. Your misleading complaint of “no medical attention” is confusing because no one is in need of medical attention and it will be provided should it become necessary. Simply making your statement just engenders fear.
Of course the University wishes to resume studies as soon as it is safely possible. The majority of the students at yesterday’s meeting wanted this as well. We will do what we can and are assessing this as we dig out from under Ivan's effect.
It is incumbent upon each of us in a time of disaster to find out what we can, disseminate what we know in a rational fashion, and to refrain from uncorroborated scary statements.