April 16, 2007
Dear Colleagues,
We are all shocked and saddened by the tragic events that occurred at Virginia Tech University earlier today. Our thoughts and prayers are with the students, faculty, staff, and parents of the Virginia Tech community.
If you are feeling especially overwhelmed by these events, please remember that the Counseling Center is open and available to all students, faculty, and staff, at ULM. The center is located just north of Ouachita Hall and can be reached at 342-5220.
It is also natural during this time to look around our own environment and question the preparedness at ULM if a similar event were to occur here. Last year, in response to the events surrounding Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we developed an Emergency Response Plan with the help of a security consultant.
We have an Emergency Response Management Group and an emergency response plan that was tested with the simulation of a catastrophic event. In addition, the University Police Department, the Monroe Police and the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's Office have all received special crisis training.
Our email and telephone systems are capable of broadcast messaging so that we can quickly and effectively reach those students and employees on campus if the need arises. Please be assured that we will be watching as events and analysis unfolds in order to better prepare our public safety responses and improve the training and planning that is already in place.
Again, let me express my deepest sympathy and that of the entire University of Louisiana at Monroe to all who are affected by the tragic events at Virginia Tech.
James E. Cofer, Sr.
ULM President