The University community responds to national tragedy

UPDATED 5:35 p.m. Oct. 3

The University community responds to national tragedy

University of MichiganPublic Television (UMPTV—channel 28, Flint, available on many Michigan local cable TV systems) will air a special edition of “The Mel Serow Show: Kids and Terrorism” 12:30 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 3), with encore presentations 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 6) and 2:30 p.m. Sunday (Oct. 7).

The U-M Center for Research on Learning and Teaching has compiled suggestions for U-M instructors leading discussions of the Sept. 11 tragedy.

The U-M Benefits Office has posted a revised Off-Campus Travel Handbook For Faculty, Staff and Students.

The Michigan Marching Band is producing a commemorative video of the first pre-game and half-time show in Michigan Stadium following the September 11 attack, featuring the marching bands of the U-M and Western Michigan University. Proceeds from sale of this video will be donated to the American Red Cross.

The Alumni Association of the University of Michigan has opened a Message Board, an open forum of information about Michigan alumni.

The School of Business Administration has compiled essays for anyone interested in making a positive difference within their workplace or community following the terrorist attack of Sept. 11.

Telecasts—Some of the U-M discussions regarding the Sept. 11 tragedy were videotaped and are being telecast on the U-M educational access channel 22 in the Ann Arbor-area Comcast cable system.

The Taubman College of Architecture and Urban Planning‘s third all-college meeting on terrorism is 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday (Oct. 5) in the Auditorium of the Art and Architecture Building on North Campus. It will start with a faculty presentation by Prof. James Snyder, a nationalexpert on urban security, who will talk on how infrastructure, architectureand professional practice will change because of new security designguidelines. Snyder will lead a discussion which may include other matters.

The School of Public Health and the Public Health Student Association sponsor a Disaster Relief Symposium 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday (Oct. 6) in the first floor Auditorium of the School of Public Health Bldg. II. Registration (at the symposium Web site—http://www.sph.umich.edu/phsa/disaster.html) is desired.The School of Public Health’s Disaster Relief Initiative team, which traveled to El Salvador after the devastating earthquake in San Salvador Jan. 2001, seek to share what they learned about the effects of disaster on communities, families, and emotional and physical sustainability, in light of the Sept. 11 tragedy. One of the speakers Saturday will be a psychiatric doctor who is president of Disaster Psychiatry Outreachin New York and is working closely with firefighters and rescue volunteers at Ground Zero.Keynote speaker is Doctora Elena Polanco Bonilla, of the Universidad de El Salvador. Other speakers are from the University of North Carolina, City of Dearborn Emergency Management and the American Red Cross.

The Liz Lerman Dance Exchange will include in its 8 p.m. Saturday (Oct.6) Power Center performance a specially created work involving leaders of many faith traditions from the Ann Arbor and Detroit communities. Lerman’s 18-month residency at U-M has been sponsored by the University Musical Society, the University, the Detroit 300 Theme Semester, and U-M’s Arts of Citizenship program.

Brave New Works, a new music group dedicated to presenting, promoting and performing contemporary classical music for a broad audience presents a mini-festival featuring music of Albert A. Stanley Distinguished University Prof. Emer. of Music Leslie Bassett 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 6 and 7) in the Britton Recital hall of the Moore Music Building on North Campus, offered “as testimony to those values that we all honor.”

Computer Professionals for Social Responsibilitypresents a public seminar 2-5 p.m. Oct. 19 on Information Ethics in the Aftermath of September 11th, addressing such issues asIs there really a tradeoff between privacy and security, or is privacy a costly illusion whose time has past?Are there any policies that could effectively control potentially dangerous information or information technologies?What technologies, if any, can actually help prevent terrorism, and which are likely to prove expensive mistakes?There also will be a discussion of information commons and recent attempts to fence off sections of it; and how changes to copyright, free speech, and privacy could threaten our society.

The U-M has created a Web site to help families and friends affected by the tragedies locate one another.

The American Red Cross is in need of blood to replenish the nation’s supply. Call (800) GIVE-LIFE—(800) 448-3543—to schedule an appointment near where you live.If you are unable to get through to the toll-free number, the U-M School of Business Administration has an online formthrough which people can contact the Washtenaw Chapter of the Red Cross to set up appointments.Open message to the University Community from the Red Cross

U-M Human Resources & Affirmative Action has issued an e-mail Benefits Special Edition – Your Retirement Plan

Counseling resources

Cancellations and postponements

Statements from University community leaders

William Bess, director of public safety, says the U-M Department of Public Safety and Security is attending to heightened security issues and is working with local, state and federal agencies as appropriate, but the department will not discuss details of any security measures being taken. Individuals with security concerns can contact the department at (734) 763-1131.

As additional information becomes available, we will post updates to the University’s main Web site at www.umich.edu.

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