September 11th Aftermath: CMC Information CenterStatements and AnnouncementsContents (Scroll to View)
November 5, 2001 Dear CMC Students, Faculty and Staff: I write today to discuss with you several areas of interest and concern in light of on-going domestic and international consequences resulting from the terrorists attacks of September 11, the subsequent outbreak of anthrax contaminations and infections, and the ongoing "war on terrorism." It is important to provide ongoing information and make it readily accessible; to sharpen our preparedness for emergencies and safety; and to utilize these exceptional events to have relevant courses, lectures, and less formal opportunities to discuss the causes and significance of terrorism. News and Information The College has enhanced and reorganized its news and information as a result of the September 11th events. Our web site, www.claremontmckenna.edu/news/sept11, features CMC emergency phone numbers and compilation of statements and advisories, the day's related news stories, and related links, such as the U.S. State Department, FBI, and Centers for Disease Control. Most of us in the CMC community are already regular consumers of print, broadcast, and online news, but we should redouble our efforts to stay informed during these times. Television news is available all day in the Hub at Emett Student Center, and there are, of course, countless options for online news updates, such as CNN.com, latimes.com, newyorktimes.com, and so on. These are our best sources for the most current news. Public Health The anthrax contaminations and infections have raised justifiable concerns about the adequacy of our private and public health preparedness. I am asking members of our community to respond to concerns about public health in the following ways. In the event of possible exposure to anthrax or other suspicious health concerns, please notify authorities by calling campus safety at 72000 or 911. Students may also notify their Resident Assistants or go directly to the Student Health Services at Baxter Medical Building. The Claremont College's health professionals have long-established protocols with the Los Angeles County Office of Public Health and would provide a coordinated response. We have also taken precautionary measures with respect to our mailrooms. CMC mailroom staff and student workers have been issued gloves and masks, and have received information about the possible risks. Students have not been barred from working in mailroom assignments and have been told that the College will try to find another position should they become uncomfortable handling the mail. Such a decision would not affect a student's chances of reemployment at a later date. While there have been no reports of anthrax within The Claremont Colleges, it is prudent to be informed. The attached health advisory, distributed by the Centers for Disease Control and sent to the CMC Community on Oct. 12, contains excellent basic guidelines and information. The entire text is also posted on CMC's web site. Flu Shots According to health professionals, it is an especially good idea to obtain a flu shot this year. Not only does the vaccination help avoid contracting the flu, but the similarity of flu and anthrax symptoms makes this a particularly timely precaution. Any student with anthrax concerns who visits Student Health Service at the Baxter Medical Center would first be given an instant-read influenza test, according to health services director Dr. Valerie Novak. Flu shots will be offered to all The Claremont Colleges' students, faculty, and staff, on Thursday, November 8th, from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Smith Center ballroom on the Pomona College campus. Flu shots are and are available on a first-come, first-served basis. On-site health professionals will be available to answer individual questions. Public Safety In the event of an emergency specifically directed to any of The Claremont Colleges, the Claremont Police Department would notify our campus security office. Procedures are in place within the consortium and CMC for around-the-clock notification and communication to the broader community. Emergency Preparedness Three teams of CMC emergency operations volunteers have been in place for several years and meet regularly for additional training. The groups, which handle general first aid and search and rescue, are complemented by the campuswide emergency operations center servicing The Claremont Colleges. CMC also conducts regular fire and emergency drills, including late-night residence hall evacuation. It is important that we take seriously and participate in these types of emergency preparedness training sessions. Washington, D.C. Program Students CMC operates a Washington, D.C. program for students from The Claremont Colleges. We have in place in Washington a full-time faculty director, Dr. Elizabeth Spalding. A group of faculty and administrators here at CMC regularly monitors the situation in Washington since that area has been directly impacted by the September 11 terrorist attacks and the spread of anthrax contamination and infections. A week ago, the Dean of Students, Torrey Sun, also traveled to Washington, D.C., to visit with Dr. Spalding and all student participants in the program. We have informed all the students that if for any reason any of them is unable to complete the semester effectively in Washington, D.C., that he or she may return to The Claremont Colleges to complete work here for the remainder of the semester. Study Abroad For many students, the opportunity to spend a semester studying abroad is a highlight of their undergraduate academic career and contributes richly to the college experience. CMC's office of Off-Campus Study works with 44 colleges, universities, and educational organizations to provide affiliated study aboard opportunities. There are currently 83 CMC students studying in 24 countries. Program director Nicole Hamon is in regular communication with our affiliate programs to ensure that appropriate security and safety measures are communicated and followed, and has just returned from a conference of the Council on International Educational Exchange in which security issues were discussed. All students have been asked to register with their local embassies, and security measures have been reiterated. Academic Initiatives The events of September 11, the current work on homeland security, and the ongoing efforts in the "war on terrorism" provide us a unique opportunity to address important issues about religion, U.S. foreign policy, basic values important to the citizens of this country, the capacities of human kind for both good and evil, and many more topics. The Claremont Colleges are using these significant events to provide an opportunity for the community for learning and conversations. I cannot in this letter try to list every single course or activity that relates to these events. Instead, let me mention just a few of these myriad activities below. Catherine Grier-Carlson of the Office of Chaplains is coordinating the consortium-wide efforts to identify and coordinate academic initiatives relating to this topic. CMC's Dean of the Faculty William Ascher, who serves as chair of the consortium's Academic Deans Council, is leading a consortium-wide academic coordinating committee to develop lists of experts, coordinate jointly sponsored events, and keep all campuses apprised of academic developments. At CMC, visiting historian Donal O'Sullivan will offer a history course on the impact of terrorism. At the Claremont Graduate University, an Arabic language course will be offered next semester. International Place, located at CMC, has been offering several Thursday lunchtime lectures on topics related to these current events. We also have a number of speakers this semester who possess relevant expertise. Former United Nations Ambassador Jeane Kirkpatrick spoke on campus last week. Upcoming Athenaeum speakers include former Assistant Secretary of State and Yale Law School Professor Harold Koh on November 8, and former National Security Advisory and Georgetown Professor Anthony Lake on November 15, both of whom will address current world events. On November 12, the Athenaeum will host a seminar on "Philosophical Ruminations on Terrorism." We will also host a series of lectures on Islamic Banking and Finance by Professor Mohammad Nejatullah Siddiqi of Aligarh Muslim University, India, who is a senior fellow at the Center for Near Eastern Studies. These lectures will be held on November 8, November 15, and January 16, and are sponsored by the Financial Engineering Management Program at the Claremont Graduate University and the Day 4 + 1 Program of Claremont McKenna College and the Drucker School of Management of the Claremont Graduate University. We will continue to respond to these unfolding events. I invite any of you to contact me if you have additional suggestions about the best ways in which our community can deal with all these domestic and international challenges. We at CMC are fortunate to have the opportunity to be part of a strong and supportive College community in which to tackle these new crises for the United States and the world.
Inter-faith Service 12:15 p.m. Friday; Afternoon Classes And All Friday Athletics Cancelled (From Dean William Ascher, September 13, 2001, 4:27 PM) To observe tomorrow's (Friday) National Day of Prayer and Remembrance declared by President Bush, who called for Americans to attend religious services or other observances of respect at noon, CMC is canceling Friday classes from noon on. The office of the Chaplains will be conducting an inter-faith service beginning at 12:15 pm at the Garrison Theater. Friday CMS sports events have been cancelled by the SCIAC league coaches, and all CMS Friday athletics practices have been cancelled. For staff members, CMC offices will be closed between noon and 2 pm tomorrow; please consult with your supervisor if there are any special circumstances pertaining to your office. Panel Discussion & Forum About Sept. 11 Tragedy 4 p.m. Monday at Athenaeum (From Dean William Ascher, September 13, 2001, 4:27 PM) Second, please attend a town meeting and panel discussion on Monday, September 17, from 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm at the Athenaeum. Faculty members from psychology, government and other departments will discuss this week's events and their impacts on all our lives, followed by questions and discussion. In observance of Rosh Hashanah eve, the formal meeting will end at 5:15, but those who wish to stay longer are welcome to do so. Letter from President Gann, September 11, 2001, 4:07 PM From President Gann to CMC Faculty, Staff, and Students: This has indeed been a day of enormous sadness and concern over the shocking events in New York, Washington, and Pennsylvania. We are reminded once again of the fragility of life and the importance of community. Many attended the ecumenical service arranged by The Claremont Colleges today. For those who wish to talk this evening, the Monsour Counseling Center will remain open until 9 p.m. The Hub and Collins Dining Hall will also remain open as a gathering spot, and the Forum will be open until 9 p.m. with television updates available throughout the evening. As of late this afternoon, we are able to confirm the safety of all students who are interning this semester in our Washington, D.C. program, and have been able to reach most parents of these students to share this news. The Office of Alumni Relations is also gathering information on alumni in the affected areas. If you have any information to share, please contact Elenor Taylor, Director of Alumni Relations, at extension (909) 621-8978. We plan a regular schedule of classes and business throughout the week. While specific class plans are of course at the discretion of each faculty member, we are encouraging the continuation of a regular schedule. You should feel free to contact me, the Dean of Students, the Dean of the Faculty, with questions or concerns. We will continue to keep you apprised as we receive additional information. In the meantime, I know we join together in our expression of sorrow for the victims and their families. Advisory from Dean Ascher, September 11, 2001, 9:32 AM Dear CMC Faculty, Students, and Staff: Despite these tragedies, we are continuing with our normal schedule. If a faculty member or a student has family members who have been affected by the apparent terrorist attacks, their absences will, of course, be excused. Collins and the Hub will be open all day, with coffee and news available on the television. It probably makes sense for students to stay close to campus. We are in touch with Elizabeth Spaulding of the Washington Program to check on our students in that Program. One of the purposes of terrorism is to disrupt a society, to paralyze it. We shouldn't let that happen. William L. Ascher |
