Dear Colleagues: I write to acknowledge the shock and grief that the UCSF community is feeling over the incomprehensible shootings and deaths at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). I know you all join me in extending our deepest sympathies to the many individuals and families who are suffering in the wake of this tragedy. Unfortunately, such random acts of violence remind us of the need to be prepared for any and all emergencies. The UCSF Police Department works closely with local law enforcement and emergency services agencies to ensure that we will act quickly and communicate with haste when and if we are ever threatened. To learn more about campus police and security services, please take a few minutes to read an important message from our Police Chief by clicking here UCSF PD. Alternatively, you may visit the UCSF Police website at www.police.ucsf.edu or call 476-1414. I also wish to remind you that mental health counseling is available to students through Student Health (476-1281) as well as to faculty and staff through the UCSF Faculty and Staff Assistance Program (FSAP) at 476-8279 (or visit their website at http://ucsfhr.ucsf.edu/index.php/assist/). These services are free and confidential. In closing, I want to assure you that sustaining a safe environment for our faculty, staff, postdocs, students, residents, patients and visitors is of the utmost importance to me and my colleagues in the campus leadership. But we need the commitment and cooperation of everyone in the UCSF community to assist in our effort by being alert to suspicious activities and immediately reporting them to 9-911, wearing UCSF ID cards, closing and locking doors appropriately, and knowing campus emergency procedures (see www.police.ucsf.edu). As a tribute to the victims of this horrific tragedy, the campus is flying the national, State, and University of California flags at half-staff until sunset on April 22, 2007. Sincerely, J. Michael Bishop, M.D.Chancellor
