Mourning victims at the universities of Idaho and Virginia

Nov. 14, 2022

Dear Roadrunners,

I am devastated by the loss of seven college students killed at the universities of Idaho and Virginia on Sunday. Two campus communities 2,500 miles apart are in mourning today, reeling from tragic acts of violence and shelter-in-place directives that have become far too frequent in American schools.

I share my deepest condolences with the families of the students lost this weekend, the survivors of these devastating acts, and all those people whose lives have been touched by violence who are retraumatized by incidents like these. While we think about the university communities in Charlottesville, Virginia, and Moscow, Idaho, I ask that you support each other – reach out to your classmates, communicate with and care for one another.

Let’s also remember our resources and ways you can act in times like these. Campus safety is always a top priority at Metropolitan State University of Denver, so please review the resources and actions you can take below. MSU Denver students and employees can find mental health services, as well as ways to be prepared for emergencies, steps to prevent violence and more.

Look out for yourself and others.

• Bookmark msudenver.edu/emergency to find emergency alerts, resources and preparedness steps all in one place.
• MSU Denver offers mental health resources for those in need. Students can receive free and confidential mental-health assistance from the Counseling Center (303-615-9988) and the Health Center at Auraria (303-615-9999, or 303-615-9911 after hours). The Student Care Center (303-615-0006) is also available, or you can contact MSU Denver’s CARE Team if you are concerned about the well-being of another student.
• Faculty and staff members can access services and support through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program. Call 303-866-4314 or complete the online form to make an appointment.
• Auraria Campus Police Department hosts regular Active Harmer Preparedness Training workshops, open to the campus community. ACPD also has a collection of Health and Safety Resources available online.

Know the warning signs and how to report.

• U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security research shows that if we “know the signs” of gun violence, we can prevent it and reverse the trend.
• Report concern to the MSU Denver CARE Team or Dean of Students.
• Contact Auraria Police.

Secure any weapons you own.

• Colorado passed a law in 2021 requiring that firearms be responsibly and securely stored when they are not in use to prevent access by unsupervised juveniles and other unauthorized users. Unlawful storage of a firearm is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Support victims directly. 

• Give to reputable funds such as VictimsFirst, which provides emergency financial assistance to families of the deceased and survivors from previous mass shootings.

Get engaged!

• Contact your legislators to advocate for change.
• Make sure you’re registered to vote, so that your voice is heard when your representatives are chosen and relevant policy is on the ballot.

Sincerely,

Janine Davidson, Ph.D.
President