Tuesday, April, 16th, 2013 Speeches and Messages
April 16, 2013
Dear Members of the Tufts Community,
In the wake of yesterday’s tragedy at the Boston Marathon, our thoughts and prayers are with those who were affected, and those of us who are still trying to make sense of the events. We are fortunate and grateful that those in the Tufts community who were running, volunteering, and watching have been accounted for and are safe.
I understand that this horrific incident has deeply shaken many in our community. I encourage you to reach out to your friends, colleagues, and others for support over the next days and weeks. Our chaplains and deans across the university, the Counseling Center on the Medford/Somerville campus, and the Employee Assistance Program are there to help you.
Today will be a day for all of us to regroup and begin to take measure of what happened. I am sure our faculty will be sensitive to the impact of yesterday’s events on students, and some classes may appropriately provide an opportunity for discussion and reflection. I encourage everyone on the Boston campus, in particular, to allow extra time and demonstrate patience, given the inevitable delays and disruption to transportation services near our health sciences schools and Tufts Medical Center.
I want to express my appreciation to all of those who helped us respond as a community. There were countless acts of generosity, and our emergency management and communications professionals worked to coordinate our activities in an inevitably complex and evolving situation. The dedicated staff of our affiliated Tufts Medical Center deserve special thanks for their professionalism and bravery in challenging circumstances.
The Boston Marathon is a great Tufts tradition. Our runners and their supporters, as well as our legions of volunteers, do much to strengthen the bonds of our community. We are indeed fortunate that in responding yesterday, our extended Tufts family drew on that same spirit of community.
Best wishes,
Tony Monaco