Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:
As we approach the mid-point of the semester, I wanted to pause for a moment and express my thanks for your contributions to our campuses and the communities we serve. I am grateful for the efforts you put forth.
Next week marks one year since the deadly terrorist attacks by Hamas and the start of the Israel-Hamas war – all of which have resulted in grievous loss of life. As I said at the beginning of the academic year, there is a lot going on in the nation and world right now. Ongoing conflict is taking place around the globe, and new tragedies and natural disasters occur with distressing regularity. While much of it is out of our control, we know it can have deep and personal impacts on members of our community.
Now more than ever, I encourage all Buckeyes to care for one another, treat one another with respect and to take advantage of the many free resources the university offers related to health and well-being. Resources for faculty and staff are also available.
I know the series of Buckeye Alerts that were issued on the Columbus campus the week of September 16 were extremely concerning, and I want to reiterate that the safety of our campus communities is our highest priority. Ohio State is in frequent contact with city of Columbus leaders, and the Ohio State University Police Division has redoubled its efforts with the Columbus Division of Police in terms of vigilance through patrol work. As always, the university’s Department of Public Safety offers a suite of tools and resources ranging from training to alerts.
Even with these efforts, it is important to remember that we are located in the middle of a large city, and Columbus is experiencing crime occurrences similar to other large cities across the nation. We will continue to do everything possible to enhance safety. Ohio State offers resources including detailed instructions about emergency procedures such as sheltering-in-place as well as a variety of video resources that cover everything from self-defense tips to what to do in an active aggressor situation.
If you haven’t looked into these offerings and services, please do so; we owe it to ourselves, as well as our families, friends and colleagues.
I am proud to be a part of this outstanding Ohio State community, and I wish anyone who is traveling or taking time away next week an enjoyable and safe autumn break.
Sincerely,
Ted
Ted Carter
President