I’ve spent a lot of time on the phone this week.
I talked a bunch to my mom and brother, who live in
Southwestern Connecticut, just outside New York City. My mom told me about the house across the
street from our family house, now crushed under the weight of a massive hundred
year oak tree that fell in the storm.
Luckily, everyone made it out.
Mom asked me what I would do if something like this happened
to my university.
“This isn’t something that gets taught in graduate programs,
mom,” I told her. “Student affairs folks
just do in times like these.”
Then I told her that I have also talked to many student
affairs colleagues at colleges and universities in the region affected by
Hurricane Sandy. They talked about campus
evacuations; closed universities with thousands of students still in the
residence halls, and trying to physically and emotionally support students
without electricity.
“So, you are like university first responders,” she
said.
Exactly.
As your ACPA President, I am grateful for the countless
hours that all of our university first responders have done this past week on
the east coast. I know your work is not
complete, but want you to know it is valued and we are proud of you. I am not sure that ACPA can do anything to
help with this disaster, except to let you know you are doing good work.
For those of us who don’t live in the affected region, many
of us have students who likely call that area home. And when they go back to visit over
Thanksgiving or the winter holidays, they will see a region that is drastically
different from the one they left when they came to campus this fall. And many of them will need support to process
what they experienced when they return to campus.
On my campus, the university first responders will be
ready. I know they will on your campus.
Thank you for all you
do.
Dr. Keith Humphrey
ACPA President, 2012-2013
