The entire nation took emergency actions yesterday to cope with the tragic events in New York City and Washington D.C., and the University was no exception.
Throughout the University's academic and Medical Center systems officials scrambled through the first phases of crisis resolution in efforts to help students and community members cope with the catastrophe.
Yesterday afternoon, the University Medical Center sent Pegasus, an air ambulance helicopter, to the Washington D.C. area to help with rescue efforts there, Director of Health System Media Relations Marguerite Beck said. The hospital's burns unit was also prepped for possible incoming patients.
Because the University hospital is a national disaster hospital, it has "a very specific plan in place to deal with emergency situations," University Spokeswoman Louise Dudley said.
Being a "national disaster hospital" also means the University Medical Center is part of a network with other hospitals to free up beds for emergency situations and send non-urgent cases to smaller, local hospitals.
At press time, the University had not been called on to take any patients, but officials were unsure what would happen next.
"We don't know to what extent our hospital will be called on, but we are preparing according to our plans, so we will receive any patients that might be sent here," Dudley said.
As emergency procedures were taken at the Hospital, University officials also were confronted the task of helping students on Grounds cope with the attack.
"We follow a policy of attempting to maintain normal activity to keep contact with students," University President John T. Casteen III said.
Based in part by a suggestion from Gov. James S. Gilmore III to keep the state's schools open, University officials decided against canceling classes yesterday.
"Your instinct is to shut down, and that often does more damage than to stay open," Casteen said.
Other Virginia colleges and universities also remained open.
We think it is "best to go ahead and hold class," Fred Hilton, director of communications at James Madison University said. "I don't think there's a safety factor."
Officials at the College of William and Mary also decided to hold classes yesterday.
"Counselors have told us it's sometimes helpful for individuals who are particularly affected to have a daily routine," said Bill Walker, William and Mary assistant vice-president for public affairs.
But officials at other Virginia colleges and universities said they felt differently about canceling classes.
Citing a high percentage of students from the New England, Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia areas, Virginia Tech cancelled classes, said Larry Hincker, Associate Vice-President for University Relations at Virginia Tech.
We "cancelled classes today out of respect for victims and their families," Hincker said.
Even though classes remained open yesterday, all University sports events have been cancelled through Thursday.
Thursday night's football game against Penn State will be postponed, but a new date has not yet been set.
Federal officials ordered all national historic landmarks to close, which included Monticello and the Rotunda.
The University also worked quickly to create means for helping students deal with grief.
Yesterday afternoon, the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) started offering walk-in counseling in Newcomb Hall and opened a 24-hour hotline to offer help to offer support for students. After 5 p.m., callers will roll over to an answering service staffed with trained clinicians. The hotline number is 924-5556.
Counselors and CAPS support groups also will be on hand today on the third-floor of Newcomb Hall and CAPS is planning support groups for students.
A full schedule is posted on the Student Affairs Web site, Federman said.
As the day went on, a number of events occurred at the University in response to the attacks.
Students, faculty and staff gathered on the Lawn last night for a candlelight vigil.
DETAILS ON VIGIL
Many religious organizations scheduled events too. Memorial events are now being scheduled.
Classes will not be held at the University from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. today.
Classes were canceled "so that we can gather in convenient places, including Old Cabell Hall Auditorium, the Chapel and other locations in each of the schools for the purpose of acknowledging together both the losses incurred ... and our determination to stand together as a community even in the worst of times," Casteen said in a statement released last night.
Blood drives have been scheduled from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. tonight at the Fashion Square Mall and on Friday at University Hall from noon to 6 p.m. Eager blood donors stood in lines for up to seven hours long yesterday.
"The best advice seems to be to support the blood drives and respond in organized ways to requests for assistance in New York and Northern Virginia," Casteen said.
As information becomes available, it will be posted on the University Web site and on recordings at 924-SNOW and 243-SNOW.
(Cavalier Daily Staff writers Atima Omara-Alwala and John Michael Layfield contributed to this article)
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