Berklee Responds to the Boston Marathon Attacks
Read several messages sent this week—from Berklee's president Roger H. Brown and one from director of counseling services Karen Grimes—in response to last Monday's attacks near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Read the latest community message from Lawrence J. Simpson, vice president for academic affairs/provost.
Message from the President
April 19, 2013
10:51 p.m.
Dear Members of the Berklee Community,
At certain times, we need to remind ourselves about what is important: the love of our families, the friendship of our colleagues, the opportunity to work in a field that gives us joy, and the gift of being of service to other people, especially the generation who will inherit the challenge of building a more peaceful world than this one. Now is one of those times.
Congratulations to those who brought the perpetrators of this crime to justice. Our deepest sympathies to those whose lives have been forever altered.
I personally want to thank our Public Safety, Residential Life, Student Affairs, Counseling, Aramark, Physical Plant, and External Affairs teams—along with everyone else whose contributions proved so valuable—who have worked so hard to protect and support our community throughout this crisis.
Now we need to get back to those things we cherish: making music, teaching students, and working together at one of the world's great colleges. Thank you all for your patience, your cooperation, and your commitment to our common cause.
Yours,
Roger H. Brown
President, Berklee College of Music
Message from the President
Dear Members of the Berklee Community,
We have closed the college again today in light of the continued turmoil we are experiencing in Boston. We are asking students to remain in their dorm rooms or apartments. I will not try to update you on the unfolding events because I suspect the facts are changing faster than we can summarize; however, I would like to assure you all that we are doing everything in our power to keep our students, faculty, and staff safe. I am very proud of and confident in our security team, and we have been in continued contact through the night and morning. I know we all look forward to being able to put this behind us, but for now, the key is to allow law enforcement personnel to do their jobs.
I would like to say once again how impressed I have been with the instincts of our students throughout this time. So many have channeled their energies into compassion for those injured and into comforting others. They have organized performances at nearby hospitals, written and shared songs of sympathy, and rallied for one another despite the anxiety I'm sure they at times have felt.
Yours,
Roger H. Brown, President
Berklee College of Music
Message from the President
April 18, 2013
Dear Berklee Community,
First, let me say that the stories of student bravery and generosity in helping others through this crisis have been both astounding and heartwarming. One particularly compelling example is that of Callie Benjamin, a songwriting student who responded immediately to help victims of the blast. We've also heard many stories of students donating their time and energy at local hospitals and community gatherings. We look forward to hearing more about the contributions of our students, faculty, and staff. If you'd like to add yours, please go to Berklee Blogs. We are a strong and talented community and Boston and the larger world need our skills right now.
We will reopen the college at 8:00 a.m. Friday and conduct classes in all the buildings that we are able to open. Classes and college business housed in the 150 or 130 Massachusetts Avenue complex, 1140 Boylston, 22 the Fenway, 7 Haviland, St. Cecilia’s, 100 Mass Ave., and the Boston Architectural College will be conducted on Friday schedule. I am told that the Dalton St. Garage will be open for those of you who use this parking facility.
Please note that classes and college activity in the 939, 921, 899 and 855 Boylston facilities will not be conducted Friday, because these are still inside the FBI investigative cordon. These buildings will not be open, for any reason, on Friday.
Be aware that some faculty teaching on Friday will not be able to access their offices since they are located inside the investigative cordon, so we ask them to be prepared for class Friday as best as possible. Everyone—students, faculty, and staff—must have their Berklee ID for building access.
We fully expect that the FBI will complete their work in the cordoned area this weekend, and that all of our buildings will be returned to our use on Monday morning, so please plan accordingly.
On Monday at 12:30 p.m., we will hold a community-wide event for students, faculty, and staff in the Berklee Performance Center to reflect on this shocking event. We will come together as friends and colleagues to support one another and honor both those who have lost their lives or been injured, and those who have given greatly of themselves. Entry to this event will be by Berklee ID only.
This is the time for us to show our concern and commitment to one another and not let a cowardly, senseless act deter us from our collective aspirations to build a better world.
Sincerely,
Roger H. Brown, President
Berklee College of Music
Message from the President: After the Marathon Attack
April 17, 2013
Dear Members of the Berklee Community,
We are humbled by the messages of support and appreciation that have come from alumni, friends, parents, and fellow educators and musicians from around the globe. As a group, we have been extremely fortunate. To our knowledge, just one of our students has been injured, and we’ve been in touch with him. Thankfully, he assured me by voicemail that he is fine.
The college will be closed again Thursday as law enforcement does the work necessary to bring the perpetrators to justice. I want to thank you for your patience as we wait for them to complete their investigative work in a broad area that includes some of our buildings. We will reopen as soon as they allow us to do so.
Our buildings are secure, and our director of public safety is working closely with the authorities as the investigation continues. While we wait to reopen, our dormitory residents are eating well, and we have movies and recreational activities going, to help provide students some needed diversion from what has happened. There are board games, basketball, banner signing, ultimate frisbee, and sing-a-longs that sound as they can only at Berklee.
Students, if you are feeling anxious about the recent events and it is after office hours (or when the office is closed) you can call Public Safety at 617 747-2333 and ask to speak with the on-call counselor; they will talk with you. If members of the faculty have concerns about a student, they should call that number and consult with the on-call counselor. Once the counseling office is re-opened, students can make an appointment or drop by between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
We are in the process of pulling together a musical event, an acknowledgement of those who have suffered from this tragic act and the exemplary response that our fellow Bostonians have made under difficult circumstances. You can expect to hear more about this soon.
As always, let our thoughts and prayers be with those who have suffered from this senseless act of violence. And let’s lend our music to help begin the healing that our city will need.
Sincerely,
Roger H. Brown, President
Berklee College of Music
Message from the President
April 16, 2013
Dear Members of the Berklee Community,
A terrible attack has occurred in our city. We have learned that at least one student was injured in the explosions. While we have not yet made contact with him directly, a fellow student reported this news to us. Please let us know if you know of any others from the Berklee community injured or affected.
In order to help law enforcement professionals to do their jobs, we have been asked to close the college, and for those of you near campus to remain at home or in your dorm rooms. Per Boston Police Commissioner Davis, a 15-block radius surrounding today’s tragic event will be closed off for the next 24 hours.
As a result, Berklee will be closed on Tuesday, April 16. (UPDATE: Berklee will also be closed on Wednesday, April 17 and Thursday, April 18. Please visit our alerts page for the latest information.)
The State Police and National Guard are fully deployed, and the Boston Police Department is presently walking block to block, thoroughly checking people and objects.
It has been confirmed that two additional devices have been exploded by the police under controlled conditions. So it is vital that you remain indoors, stay tuned to professional broadcast and web-based media, and continue to monitor the situation.
All of our Berklee buildings are locked to outsiders, and will remain so until further notice. Additional Berklee Public Safety officers have been deployed at a variety of campus locations. The 160 Massachusetts Avenue construction site will be closed Tuesday.
At last count, at least 140 people are injured, and three have died. All the injured have been transported to area hospitals. Let us all have them, and their families, in our thoughts and prayers.
If you should see something suspicious, please report it immediately to Berklee Public Safety at 617 747-2333. If you are feeling concerned, and would like to talk to someone about your response to the emergency, you may reach the Counseling and Advising Center, after hours, through the Public Safety number, and during regular business hours at 617 747-2310. Faculty and staff, you are encouraged to call our Employee Assistance Program at 800 828-6025.
Please know that there is no damage to any of our campus buildings, and that all of the buildings are secured. If you have issues or questions regarding the emergency, you are welcome to call Roy Murphy, chief of public safety, who is on campus, at 617 747-2304.
Please stay attuned to further alerts via the Berklee Emergency Notification System (BENS). We will send additional updates via BENS and email as information becomes available.
Yours,
Roger H. Brown
President, Berklee College of Music
Message from the Director of Counseling Services
April 16, 2013
Director of Counseling Services
Berklee College of Music