November 16, 2001

To:  The University at Albany Community:

It is with deep regret that I inform the University at Albany community that we have been directly touched yet again by a terrible disaster. The American Airlines airplane crash that occurred on Monday, November 12 took the life of the father of one of our undergraduates. He perished when the family home was hit. The mother of one of our graduate students was a passenger on Flight 587 and we have received subsequent word of other students and alumni who lost family members who were also passengers on that flight. It is almost incomprehensible to me that so many must suffer such heartbreaking losses in the wake of the horrific events of September 11. I wish to express my deepest sympathy to all behalf of University family.

As you prepare to leave campus for the Thanksgiving holiday, I know you share my thankfulness for the support we are able to offer each other to help deal with these crises. All of us, together, can overcome such adversity, although our lives may never be the same.

Our thoughts are with all of our students, present and past, whose families have been so deeply affected by this most recent tragedy. The love and support of this entire community is with each of them. And I wish each one of you the special peace that emanates from family during the coming Thanksgiving holiday. Come back to us safely.

Sincerely,

Karen R. Hitchcock, Ph.D.
President