Dear FIU Alumni:

We are united with our nation and communities in responding to the overwhelming events of September 11, 2001. As a university, we are concerned for our students and alumni, many of whom have been personally and profoundly impacted by these heartless acts of terrorism. Several members of the University community lost family members and friends in these tragic events. On behalf of the FIU community, I wish to extend our deepest sympathy to the families, friends and associates of the victims of this attack on our nation and our way of life. All are in our thoughts and prayers.

At home, the FIU community reacted quickly and thoughtfully to these tragic events. Classes were canceled for the remainder of Tuesday, and all FIU athletic contests for that weekend were postponed or canceled. The Health Care and Wellness Center immediately organized a blood drive, and the Counseling and Psychological Services Centers provided assistance to students, faculty and staff. The Jack D. Gordon Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship Studies and the Transnational and Comparative Studies Center co-sponsored two roundtable discussions on terrorism in America, and the Academy for the Art of Teaching circulated guidelines for faculty in all disciplines regarding in-class discussion of the crisis. Memorial services on both FIU campuses were held the following week. Finally, in early October FIU will be holding a Community Leadership Forum at which FIU faculty experts and others will discuss the impact of terrorism on South Florida's and the nation's future.

If you know of any fellow FIU graduate who may have been a victim or is among the missing, please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at 1-800-FIU ALUM or by e-mail at alumni@fiu.edu.

The FIU community is among the most diverse of all American universities. While these events have saddened us all, they have also served to remind us all of the benefits we enjoy as a free and democratic society and to unite us in the face of such brutal and cowardly acts.


Sincerely,

Modesto A. Maidique
President