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Campus News - September 17, 2001 |
UNM staff counsels grieving community
University can be source of strength, Gordon says
The Universitys sense of community can provide a source of strength to
help people cope with the recent tragedy in America, says UNM President William
C. Gordon.
...I would hope that this sense of community endures and that we come
together in support of each other as each of us tries to understand and cope
with these tragic events, he said in a statement issued last week.
This is a time when, above all else, we need to be supportive of our
colleagues and friends, and we need to treat each other with the civility and
respect each of us deserves and needs, Gordon said, adding that the
University will continue to monitor national and local events and will continue
to make the safety and well being of its faculty, staff and students its highest
priority.
Across campus, departments and organizations rallied to provide support for
those at UNM and the greater community.
AGORA, the UNM student run crisis center, responded immediately to offer counseling
to members of the university and statewide communities distraught and concerned
about the attacks on the World Trade Center in New York and the Pentagon in
Washington, D.C.
The center received more than 50 calls
operations AGORA had six individuals who worked on the day of the attacks,
with three staying to answer phones all night.
Crisis counselors in some cases referred them to both the Red Cross and United
Blood Services.
UNM Counseling Assistance and Referral Service (CARS) and the Student Health
Center provided emergency counseling services.
The SHC worked with the Dean of Students Office to set up a crisis room at
a residence hall Tuesday afternoon.
All three UNM centers continue to be available for individual and group counseling.
The College of Education Art Therapy Program in the Art Education Building
opened its studios free of charge to the community.
The UNM Continuing Education Center responded to a request from United Blood
Services to provide its facilities for people interested in donating blood.
The UNM Womens Resource Center (WRC) made its group room in Mesa Vista
Hall available through Sept. 26. The room provides art supplies to allow people
an alternative way to express their feelings. The center also has two therapists
who can provide crisis intervention.
The UNM Alumni Relations Office opened the UNM Alumni Memorial Chapel last
week for all members of the University community who wanted a place for private
prayer or reflection.
Many UNM campus ministries and organizations held special services. The Public
Affairs Department (PAD) will continue to report activities related to the crisis.
For information, call AGORA, 277-3013; CARS, 272-6868; SHC, 277-3136, WRC,
277-3716 or PAD, 277-5813.
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University of New Mexico Albuquerque, New Mexico USA Copyright ©1998 The University of New Mexico. Comments to: paaffair@unm.edu |
Campus News Public Affairs Department Hodgin Hall, 2nd floor Albuquerque, NM 87131-0011 Telephone: (505) 277-5813, Fax: (505) 277-1981 |