Purdue News
Purdue News
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September 12, 2001 Purdue responds to terrorist attackWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue University flags are flying at half-staff, and officials have placed the campus on a heightened state of alert to ensure the safety of students, faculty and staff in response to Tuesday's (9/11) suspected terrorist attacks in New York City and at the Pentagon
Purdue President Martin C. Jischke said: "We will do everything possible to protect our students, faculty, staff and visitors. However, in addition to concerns about safety, we must ensure that these attacks do not victimize us by corrupting our spirits. These events are a reminder that our world is not yet a peaceful place and that the terrible hatred that still divides peoples and nations touches us all. "At Purdue, we have representatives from many countries, ethnic groups and religions. Each of us is here because of a desire to build a better life through education. I want everyone on every Purdue campus to feel confident that he or she is welcome and safe." Purdue Student Government leaders are sponsoring a vigil at 8 p.m. today (Wednesday, 9/12) at Slayter Center. President Jischke will lead the vigil."We felt this would help the Purdue community come together, mourn together, and see others facing the same emotions and concerns," said Jessica Cavallo, PSG executive director of operations.
University police will increase campus night patrols, said Joseph L. Bennett, vice president for university relations. Police have requested that the campus community notify them if they see suspicious objects or packages. Any unauthorized vehicles parked on campus will be towed, Bennett said. In addition, building staff are conducting safety walk-throughs of all university buildings.
No classes – including evening classes and exams – were canceled, Bennett said. Counseling staff from the Office of the Dean of Students is available to work with students who need assistance, he said. Students can contact Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for assistance and support in dealing with the personal and emotional impact of this tragedy. Students should call (765) 494-6995 on weekdays to speak with a counselor, or (765) 494-1724 for telephone consultation during the evening and on weekends. CAPS also will collaborate with other campus agencies to provide various services and programs to address needs as they emerge. Purdue's fire department conducted a safety sweep of the Purdue University Airport, using bomb-sniffing dogs. All incoming flights were canceled Tuesday (9/11), but the airport tower remained staffed to handle any emergency flights. Betty Stansbury, Purdue Airport director, said the FAA is expected to consider lifting restrictions on aircraft flights as of noon today (Wednesday, 9/12). Northwest Airlink, which provides daily service from Lafayette to Detroit, canceled all Tuesday flights, she said. Passengers whose flights were canceled should contact the airline for rebooking. "As a precaution, the airport has increased its security measures, and we appreciate the cooperation of the tenants and users of the airport," Stansbury said. Discover Purdue events scheduled for the remainder of the week have been postponed. Tuesday night's Purdue volleyball match at Valparaiso was canceled, and Big Ten members will discuss upcoming events on the athletic schedule. Writer: Brian Zink, (765) 494-2080, bzink@purdue.edu Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu PHOTO CAPTIONS:
Kathy McNew, a Central Indiana Regional Blood Center technician, receives blood from Purdue University clinical psychology graduate students Michele Collins of Kansas City, Mo., and Sara Pettinger of Flint, Mich. The students were donating blood Tuesday (9/11) on the West Lafayette campus in response to the suspected terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon. Response to the blood drive, which had been previously scheduled by the Purdue Cooperative Council, overwhelmed the staff working on the Bloodmobile. Many students waited more than two hours to make a donation. (News Service Photo by David Umberger) A publication-quality photograph is available at the News Service Web site and at the ftp site. Photo ID: student.blood
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