Dear Members of the Newhouse and VPA Communities:
As you know, our schools share a presence at the Syracuse University Dick Clark Los Angeles Program. Just last week, as the devastating fires broke out, several of our students arrived on the West Coast to begin their spring semester away. Since then, leaders from across our campus have been working to support our students, faculty and staff on the ground in Los Angeles.
Colleagues from Academic Affairs, Emergency Management and University Communications have been in constant contact with the Los Angeles staff. This includes meeting regularly to assess conditions, review evacuation warnings and orders, and make plans to evacuate and relocate should those actions become necessary. We’ve also been regularly communicating with our students and their families, as well as faculty and staff at SULA, to ensure they have the most up-to-date information.
As our students return for the start of the spring semester here on campus, we are cognizant that many are from Los Angeles and/or have families or loved ones who have lost homes, evacuated or remain in harm’s way. The University has been in touch with these students to provide available resources and services. The Office of Student Outreach and Support has a team that coordinates services such as counseling at the Barnes Center, financial aid, and parent and family services. We will continue to assess daily conditions and connect with Los Angeles area students to provide additional support as necessary. Understandably, this is a very difficult time for them and their families.
Finally, many of you have also asked what you can do to support our students, faculty, staff and alumni affected by the disaster. For now, we ask that you please keep our community members from Los Angeles in your thoughts. We will share additional updates as pertinent.
The crisis in southern California continues to weigh heavily on all our minds. Our hearts go out to our Orange community members impacted. We echo Chancellor Syverud’s sentiments this week and express our deep gratitude for the exhaustive efforts of VPA and Newhouse faculty and staff in Los Angeles. They have begun instruction and are working around the clock to support our students and each other despite very difficult personal challenges.
Sincerely,
Dean Mark J. Lodato
S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications
Dean Michael S. Tick
College of Visual and Performing Arts