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Dear Colleagues and Students:
These first few days of coping with the horrifying events of Sept. 11 have made me very proud of San Francisco State University.
At the first big University gathering my meeting with 1,200 residence hall students less than 12 hours after the attacks a spirit of mutual support and determination to avoid scapegoating punctuated the students' expressions of fear and bewilderment.
The next day, our quickly announced noontime rally in front of the Student Center drew a far larger crowd than I had anticipated. Over the space of some four hours, hundreds of students, staff and faculty stood remarkably silent except for their applause listening attentively as I, Academic Senate Chair Pamela Vaughn, AS President Ronda NewtScott, and member after member of the campus community spoke briefly about these terrible events, our own feelings, and the importance of helping each other throug h this. Again, our values showed strongly. A representative of our Student Muslim Association received strong applause for his heartfelt expression of sorrow and horror. Dean of Human Relations Ken Monteiro aroused murmurs of agreement with his reminder that as we express our personal pain, we take care not to inflict pain intentionally on others. Senate Chair Vaughn, who brought her class to the event, said that "we need each other" at such a time.
A candlelight vigil on Thursday, sponsored by Associated Students, and an opportunity for quiet meditation at our Memorial Grove on Friday concluded a week in which we did our best to comfort each other and to maintain our loyalty and support for all members of this community. As we move on through what is going to be a long, painful time, we on this campus can do no better than to continue in the spirit with which we have begun. I believe we will do just that.
Robert A. Corrigan
President
President's comments at a rally
What follows is the text of President Corrigan's comments at last Wednesday's noon rally on Malcolm X Plaza:
Good afternoon. Thank you for pausing on a day when shock is beginning to turn to new emotions grief, fear, anger, a desire to help and by your very presence, helping our community, the San Francisco State University community, to come to grips with an event that has horrified the world.
We are here to start to heal. We are here to pledge that terrorism will not achieve its hideous aim that instead of driving us apart, it will draw us together. We will not let terrorism change the eyes with which we view each other, the hearts with which we understand each other, the respect with which we treat each other.
We stand here as a united community united first of all by our sorrow for the victims of yesterday's unprecedented terrorist attacks. I share the feelings that I expect many of you are experiencing disbelief, horror, and extraordinary sadness. We feel all those emotions and more in the wake of acts that in their monstrousness have no parallel in our nation's history. Secretary of State Colin Powell has called these attacks "acts of war not just against the United States, but on civilization."
That is an attack we can and we must help to repel. Our role is not military. Our weapons are not guns or bombs. Our strength and our victory will lie in our values and our commitment to community. Last night I had a wonderful meeting with the students in our residence halls, some 1,200 of them. Our gathering was positive, even inspiring.
I left it uplifted, buoyed up by the wonderful demonstration of caring and concern our students were showing for each other. The message I heard from student after student was that they were determined to continue to see each other as friends, to look out for each other. The group that gathered last night expressed a determination to make sure that now more than ever, we will not let differences in background, ethnicity, or appearance cause us to treat each other badly.
Less than an hour ago, I received a note that I would like to share with you. It came from the Muslim Student Association here on campus, and it read, in part: "We at the Muslim Student Association express deep sympathy and pray for the victims in the New York World Trade Center and Washington, D.C. May the peace and blessing of God be with them."
That message is a heartfelt reminder of the concerns and values we are reemphasizing today. Our continued sense of community will be the heart of our victory over terrorism. We are going to continue in the difficult times ahead to embody the spirit of unity and understanding that is the very best of San Francisco State. We have a remarkable opportunity in the coming days and weeks to affirm our community and our common humanity. And doing so will make us stronger, will help us heal.
We all know that the hardest days may lie ahead. We are very likely to learn, in days to come, that members of our University community are among those who have been directly touched by these terrible events. We're back in our classrooms and offices as usual today, but we know that it is not campus life as usual. We have all been touched and changed and the best thing for us now is to come together in as many ways as possible, to draw comfort from each other, and to extend all possible help through em ergency agencies.
Responsibility for these terrorist acts has yet to be determined. But whoever is found responsible, it should make no difference to our relationships with each other. We need to look out for our own and our own are all of us.
I have seen before that this campus comes together splendidly in times of crisis. I am confident that we will do so once more.
Updates on campus response are posted on SFSU home page
The SFSU Web site is the best place to check for the latest on the campus response to last week's tragedy. Information is being posted directly on the home page: www.sfsu.eduwww.sfsu.edu . The site is updated as soon as information comes in about campus events, available resources, how you can help, etc. The site also features the various messages President Corrigan has delivered to the campus community in the wake of the tragedy. Please encourage students to also use t his resource. While the University will continue to use email and voice messages to communicate with the campus, the Web site remains the most reliable source of current information.
A chronology: SFSUs response to the national tragedy
The SFSU Web site is the best place to check for the latest on the campus response to last week's tragedy. Information is being posted directly on the home page: www.sfsu.edu. The site is updated as soon as information comes in about campus events, available resources, how you can help, etc. The site also features the various messages President Corrigan has delivered to the campus community in the wake of the tragedy. Please encourage students to also use this resource. While the University will continu e to use email and voice messages to communicate with the campus, the Web site remains the most reliable source of current information.
A list of tips and guidelines to help all faculty and supervisors assist their colleagues and students cope with the tragedies was developed by the offices of Human Relations, Student Affairs, Counseling and Psychological Services, and the Disability Programs and Resource Center. The tips are reprinted below:
- Share with students and staff that they should attend to their own feelings, find personal support and inform themselves about relevant campus resources. Be sure that they are aware of Counseling and Psychological Services (ext. 82208) serving both students and employees, Safe Place (ext. 82819), Department of Public Safety (ext. 87200), CEASE (ext. 81203), Office of Human Relations (ext. 50434), and the SFSU home page for updated campus information (www.sfsu.edu ).
- You may wish to share with students and staff that individuals vary greatly in how they respond immediately to stress and how their reactions may change over time. For some, reactions such as disorientation, anger, frustration, denial or alienation may occur. Others may experience sleep disturbances, intrusive thoughts, distrust of others, strains on relationships, or increased drinking and substance use. Remind them that they should feel free to contact the services on campus as indicated above.
- Recognize that it is not likely to be business as usual in the next several days for either you or your staff and students.
- Balance your willingness to be supportive and helpful with a clear understanding of the limitations of your role or your skills in dealing with people in crisis. Be willing to refer people to other relevant services.
- Assume that someone directly affected by this traumatic event is likely to be in your office and guide your speech accordingly.
Facilitating discussions
If you choose to facilitate a discussion in your office or class, first commend those present for coming to a discussion during such a difficult time, then provide some ground rules to insure a supportive and safe discussion.
- Opinions shared in the meeting will stay in the meeting.
- Everyone is allowed to express her or his own feelings and reactions.
- Everyone will express these feelings respectfully. There will be no criticism of each other's feelings or reactions.
- One person will speak at a time.
Structuring the discussion Begin with factual information:
Where were you when you heard? What did you see or hear? What did you do? Talk about feelings:
What were you feeling when you heard? What are you feeling now? Ask about the effects on the person's life: Have you had any unusual experiences since the time of the event? Has your life (home, school, job, relationships) changed in any way since the event?
If you do not feel comfortable conducting an open discussion about these events in your department, consider referring your students or staff to one of the dropin sessions offered by Counseling and Psychological Services (see "If you need help coping," top right of this page).
For SFSU students, faculty and staff who would like to talk privately about last week's tragic events, Counseling and Psychological Services is available from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, on the second floor of the Student Services Building. To make an appointment, call ext. 82208.
If necessary, a counselor can be reached 24 hours-a-day by calling the Department of Public Safety at ext. 87200.
In addition, Counseling and Psychological Services is sponsoring a series of drop-in sessions to help faculty, staff and students cope with current events. No appointment is necessary. These sessions are being held in SSB 208 at the following times:
- 9 to 11 a.m. today
- 2 to 4 p.m. Tuesday
- 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday
- 9 to 11 a.m. Thursday
- 9 to 11 a.m. Friday
New VP for physical planning, development
Leroy Morishita has been named vice president for physical planning and development. He will begin his new position today. Morishita was previously associate vice president for budget planning and resource management.
Morishita's promotion is based on the unanimous recommendation of the search committee.
The campus community is invited to check out a new series on the "What's New" section of the Library's Web site: "@ The J. Paul Leonard Library" (www.library.sfsu.edu/new/thelibrary/issue1.html ).
Instead of issuing a paper Faculty Guide this fall, the Library introduces an ongoing series of email alerts of updates on its Web site. The first alert is available now and features "Your Library Connections," the contacts and services offered by Library faculty subject liaisons and college representatives on the Academic Senate Library Advisory Committee.
Please redistribute the email alerts to faculty in your departments and programs and provide feedback on usefulness of the series and suggestions on future topics for "@ the J. Paul Leonard Library" (www.library.sfsu.edu/new/thelibrary/issue1.html ) and "Your Library Connections."
Betty J. Hensill, emerita science librarian, died Aug. 30, after battling cancer. Hensill, who earned degrees from Illinois State Normal University and University of Illinois, joined the SFSU Education Library Department in 1953.
"She was a wonderful librarian and a wonderful mentor to new librarians," SFSU Librarian Ann Shadwick said.
While working at the Library, Hensill progressed through a variety of positions including head of public services. She especially loved being head of the Science Library and was instrumental in the development of the course in Biological Literature. She worked at SFSU for nearly 30 years and retired in 1982 to spend time with her retired husband, to garden and to enjoy the arts.
"Betty was a superb librarian, an inspirational teacher and a generous supporter of student scholarship programs," said John Hafernik, chair of the Biology Department. "She was a great friend of the Biology Department and will be greatly missed."
Her beloved husband of 40 years was John S. Hensill, a biology professor who served as dean of the College of Natural Sciences (now College of Science and Engineering) for six years. Hensill died in 1998. Hensill Hall bears his name.
At her request, there was no memorial service and her ashes were scattered at sea.
Donations in her memory may be made to the San Francisco Symphony or the Biology Department Scholarship Endowment Fund c/o the College of Science and Engineering.
The Welcome Back to Campus reception has been rescheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the University Club. The reception is cosponsored by President Corrigan, the Office of Academic Affairs and the University Women's Association. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday.
New faculty, staff reception rescheduled
The Welcome Back to Campus reception has been rescheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 1, in the University Club. The reception is cosponsored by President Corrigan, the Office of Academic Affairs and the University Women's Association. It was originally scheduled for Wednesday.
The University Promotions Committee will conduct two meetings for faculty who are applying for promotion. The meetings will be held 3:30 to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the Verducci Room of the University Club, and 3:30 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 2, in ADM 460. For details, call ext. 81264.
Ballots for a Universitywide election will be delivered to campus mailboxes this week. The election is for a search committee for the dean of faculty affairs and professional development and changes in the constitution for SFSU faculty. All ballots must be returned to the Academic Senate office no later than 5 p.m. Friday. For details, call ext. 81264.
Academic Senate's musical chairs
Academic Senate Committee Chairs aware of changes in committee membership or current vacancies must contact the Senate Office at ext. 81264.
Faculty and staff: Please inform students of Thursday's free academic skills workshop on "Study and Test Skills." The workshop will be held at 12:30 p.m. in BUS 202. No prior signup is required. For details, call ext. 82575.
Associated Students Performing Arts and Lectures presents social commentator and humorist Paul Mooney at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25, in Knuth Hall. Mooney is a former writer for Richard Pryor and TV's "In Living Color," where he created the popular "Homey the Clown" character.
Tickets cost $9 for students and $12 for general admission. For tickets, call ext. 82467.
'Albers' exhibit opens Saturday
"Conceptual Color: In Albers' Afterimage," presented by the SFSU Fine Arts Gallery in cooperation with the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, opens at noon Saturday.
An opening lecture and reception with artist Rachel Lachowicz will be held at the gallery from 1 to 4 p.m.
Bringing together a diverse selection of works by 13 modern artists, the exhibit looks at the conceptual uses of color in contemporary art since the groundbreaking work of Germanborn artist and colorist Josef Albers.
The exhibit will be on display through Thursday, Oct. 18. The Fine Arts Gallery is open from noon to 4 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is free.
SFSU has won the right from the Committee for Health Rights in the Americas (CHRIA) to receive its impressive collection of Central American health and human rights literature, studies and delegation reports.
This archive represents a treasure trove of human and health rights literature from Nicaragua, El Salvador and Guatemala concentrated around the conflict and postconflict years of the 198090s. The collection ranges from government documents and grassroots publications to medical delegation reports and letters in Spanish and English.
CHRIA hopes that the University will archive its collection responsibly and make it accessible to academics, students and community activists. Proposals to house this collection are now being accepted. Priority will be given to centers or departments associated with SFSU.
For details, contact James Quesada, Anthropology, at ext. 81633 or jquesada@sfsu.edu.
Please submit written comments on Summer Semester to the Academic Senate office, ADM 551, by Oct. 1, per a memorandum and request for information sent to all campus units. Comments will be forwarded to the University Ad Hoc Committee on Summer Semester Review and Assessment for consideration in its assessment report and recommendations for future Summer Semesters.
Discovery Day is coming soon! The Romberg Tiburon Center's annual festival of scientific fun is scheduled for 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7.
Look for complete details about Discovery Day in the next issue of CampusMemo.
CampusMemo would like to clarify the status of disability services at SFSU. Gene Chelberg, who was profiled in this month's issue of First Monday, serves on campus as the Director of University Disability Programs and Resource Center (UDPRC) reporting to the Office of Human Relations. It is his role to oversee disabilityrelated services and compliance campus wide. This includes the activities of two distinct programs within UDPRC:
Disability Programs (DP) serves faculty and staff with disabilities by providing reasonable accommodations, related consultations and services. DP is located in SSB Room 109. For more information, call ext. 83905 or go to www.sfsu.edu/~hrdpu.
The Disability Resource Center (DRC) serves students with disabilities by promoting and providing equal access to the classroom and to campusrelated activities. The DRC is located in SSB 110. For more information, call ext. 82472 or go to www.sfsu.edu/~drc.
The campus community is invited to an Office of Human Relations open house highlighting the services and programs of the University Disability Programs and Resource Center (UDPRC). The event will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 24.
Check out the new offices, learn about UDPRC services and programs, meet Human Relations staff and welcome Gene Chelberg, the new director of UDPRC.
For details, call ext. 82472 (V/TTY) or email drc@sfsu.edu.
The Jewish Studies program, in conjunction with the University of Minnesota Center for Bioethics, has been awarded a grant by the National Institutes of Health. The grant will be used to explore and discuss the ways in which the information emerging from research into human genetic variation may affect three overlapping domains: concepts of identity and authenticity; identity and community; and identity, family and kinship.
Those who are interested in or have conducted research on these topics are invited to take part in a discussion at noon Wednesday, Sept. 26, in the University Club. The discussion will be used as preparation for the working group meetings.
To participate, contact Melinda Busch, administrator of the Jewish Studies Program, at ext. 86075 or jewish@sfsu.edu.
To send events: call EXT 8-1665 or send e-mail to pubnews@sfsu.edu