Nov. 19, 2007

Student safety

In a message to the University community, President Dunn conveyed a sense of relief and gratitude for the safety of several WMU students, following an incident that took place in an off-campus student neighborhood Nov. 16.

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To the University Community:

As reported in the papers and as part of a University Crime Alert on Friday, an off-campus apartment occupied by six young women—five of them our students—was broken into during the early hours of Friday morning, and the occupants were briefly held captive. Fortunately, because of the quick thinking of one of the students and others in the vicinity as well as the fast response of the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, the residents were released without serious physical harm. Three of the perpetrators have been arrested, and a fourth remains at large.

We continue to work with the students and their families to ensure that the University does all that it can to support and assist these students as they recover from a very traumatic event. Staff members from our University Counseling Center were on the scene promptly and continue to reach out to the students and their families. Dr. Diane Anderson and I have both made personal phone calls to the families to express our concern for the students and to offer assistance as needed. We will continue to offer assistance and be on call as they recover from the ordeal.

While any incident of this nature is unacceptable and stretches one’s imagination about human behavior, I know you join with me in being thankful that our students are safe. I applaud the Kalamazoo police, supported by WMU’s officers, for their quick response and action. The University responded appropriately for a community that cares deeply about the welfare of its students, faculty and staff. I am proud of how quickly and carefully that response took place.

We enter a week during which we’ll pause to give thanks for our families and loved ones. There is much to be thankful for, and I urge that we collectively reflect and remember those who have been victimized as well as the poor and less fortunate.

Thank you.

John M. Dunn
President