Dear Mines students, faculty and staff,
Yesterday’s senseless act of violence in Boulder took the lives of 10 people, including a Boulder police officer who was responding to calls for help. We are heartbroken for the victims and the families and friends they left behind—and everyone else impacted by this tragedy. Many of us have friends, family members and colleagues in Boulder, we visit there frequently, and some members of our community live there too.
You may be wondering what you can do. You can look around your classroom today, or your Zoom meeting, and extend a hand or kind and caring word to your classmates, coworkers and others. You can show your support to a Mines Police officer or a grocery store cashier in the same way. But you should also extend that same compassion and concern to yourself.
Violence like this can leave us shaken and scared. It can also make us angry. Many of us are feeling those emotions and more this morning. If you’re feeling anxious, uncertain or in need of support, we have resources available for you:
- Services available to students include drop-in private, personalized consultations with Mines counselors over Zoom at the Counseling Center today, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Drop-in counselor-moderated support groups are also available Wednesdays and Thursdays 3-4 p.m. via this Zoom link. Students can also schedule one-on-one phone consultations with a counselor on the Counseling Center website.
- Telehealth services are available to all Mines employees based on their insurance provider (see information for Anthem, Unitedand KP). The Colorado State Employee Assistance Program also offers short-term counseling to state employees.
Faculty members and supervisors are also asked to offer flexibility and support to students, faculty and staff who require it while dealing with the impacts of this tragedy.
As we have said so often this year, this is a community that climbs together. Let’s do that – stick together – today and in the days ahead. Take care of yourself and one another.
Paul C. Johnson, President and Professor
Richard C. Holz, Provost and Professor
Kirsten Volpi, Executive Vice President for Finance, Administration and Operations
Daniel P. Fox, Vice President of Student Life
