Reaffirming our Commitment to Your Safety
15 February 2023
Dear Goucher Parents,
I thought it was important to share the email we sent to our Goucher community yesterday
in response to the tragedy at Michigan State University.
As you will see, we are encouraging our students, faculty, and staff to attend a Community
Conversation event, and detailing the campus mental health and safety resources available
to all.
If you have any questions or comments, please contact me.
Regards,
Kelly Applefeld
Coordinator for Student Affairs & Parent/Family Engagement
14 February 2023
Dear Goucher community,
We are shocked and saddened by the shootings and resulting loss of life and critical
injuries at Michigan State University last night. Considering this tragedy, I want
to once again reaffirm that your safety and well-being is our number one priority
at Goucher.
In light of this latest incident on a college campus, I encourage you to attend our Community Conversation scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday,
February 15th from 1:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Hyman Forum of the Athenaeum where Erik Thompson, Vice President for Campus Operations, Tiffany Justice, Director
of Campus Safety, and I will provide updates and answer questions about measures we
have already taken to ensure that our campus remains a safe and welcoming place for
all.
This is also an opportunity for you to share with members of the Cabinet any concerns
you may have about how safe you feel on campus, as well as offer ideas and suggestions
to consider for the future that would help you feel even safer. We remain committed
to developing solutions that prioritize safety while aligning with our community principles
of social justice, respect, and inclusion.
Mental Health Services
We understand that news of violent incidents like those at Michigan State can affect
our students’ and community members’ mental health. Please note that the Student Counseling
Center is open Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For students interested
in making an appointment, please complete the appointment request form online or call
410-337-6481. To be seen within 3-5 business hours, students may specify the need
for an urgent appointment when contacting the Student Counseling Center. Any students
in need of immediate mental health support by a licensed mental health clinician by
phone can also call our mental health line 24/7 at 855-236-4278.
Students in need of ongoing, long-term mental health support (including psychiatric
medications) may sign up for WellTrack Connect, search, and communicate with mental health providers for free.
Goucher employees who need assistance can reach out to BHS, our Employee Assistance
Plan provider, by following the instructions found in the Inside Goucher Portal. BHS has also developed tip sheets to assist with coping with traumatic events.
In case of a medical emergency, please contact Campus Safety at 410-337-6111 or dial
911.
Spiritual Support
Our staff in the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life are always available to offer
support or spiritual counseling to students, faculty, and staff. Even for those who
are not religious, the news of a sudden and tragic death can bring up questions about
the end of life and why such evil exists in the world. We might also be reminded of
past experiences of violence or loss or of those who are no longer with us. Our staff
can speak with you directly or connect you with resources for your spiritual needs.
Please contact the Chaplain of Goucher College, Rev. Maeba Jonas at chaplain@goucher.edu or 410-337-6048 or Rabbi Josh Snyder, Director of Goucher Hillel at josh.snyder@goucher.edu or 443-813-9500.
Zero Tolerance for Guns and Other Dangerous Weapons on Campus
There is zero tolerance for anyone possessing guns on campus, as well as zero tolerance
for anyone knowing of a weapon on campus and not reporting it immediately.
The Office of Campus Safety has taken a proactive stance in addressing these safety
risks and will continue to collaborate with local law enforcement to respond to and
investigate any reported weapons on campus immediately. Student Affairs will hold
all persons accountable for possession of weapons on campus and those withholding
knowledge of a weapon on campus.
If there is a specific public safety issue affecting campus, we will send a mass notification
as soon as we can. If you have not yet registered to receive messages about campus emergencies and campus
closings through our E2Campus emergency notification system we encourage you to do so now. You can also download the CampusShield app from your cell phone’s app store; CampusShield will enable students, faculty, and staff to use several campus safety resources easily.
While we are taking proactive steps and reacting to address campus violence, our greatest
resource for prevention will be your active involvement in protecting yourself and
those around you.
Immediately Report a Threat
If a member of the Goucher community (student, staff, or faculty), or a visitor to
the campus, behaves in a way that is concerning, disruptive, worrisome, or poses a
potential threat to the safety and well-being of the campus community, such behaviors
must be reported. There are a variety of ways to report any concerns, either anonymously
or should you wish to share your identity, via online forms and by calling Campus
Safety 24 hours a day/7 day a week at 410-337-6111.
To report a threat or concern: https://www.goucher.edu/campus-safety/report-a-concern/report-a-threat/
We believe the Goucher College campus is a safe place to study, work, live and gather
as a community, and Campus Safety and Student Affairs will continue to take proactive
steps to address safety concerns.
We are here for you, and we are in this together.
Sincerely,
Kent
Kent Devereaux, President