Announcements

Dear Members of the Tufts Community,

The last week has been difficult for all of us at Tufts, as it has been for the entire Boston area. The nation has followed the unfolding events, from the bomb blasts at the Boston Marathon on Monday to last night's capture of the second suspect in this terrible crime. Along the way we have seen and heard of countless acts of individual heroism and bravery in counterpart to acts of terror and violence. In challenging circumstances, Tufts has pulled together, grieving for those dead and injured from the Marathon blasts and supporting each other and the larger community in countless ways.

We are profoundly grateful to public safety officers at Tufts, the Boston region, and beyond who have worked to keep our university safe while responding to violence and the challenges of a complex investigation. Our hearts go out to all those families who lost loved ones and especially to the family of slain MIT police officer Sean Collier, whose home in Somerville was on the edge of our campus. We wish a full and speedy recovery for officer Richard Donohue, Jr., of the MBTA.

I admire and am thankful for the extraordinary work of so many Tufts staff who have gone to great lengths in the last few days to support the work of the university and in particular to ensure the safety and comfort of our students. TUPD has played a unique role, but the contributions of staff in Dining, Facilities, and other operational areas have also been indispensable. Our chaplains, counselors, and Residential Life staff have provided support and helped us to address troubling events, while many people have worked to keep the community informed. The students in TEMS have played a special role and are models for us all.

The unprecedented events off campus affected a host of activities on campus. I know that it has been disappointing for students, faculty and staff to experience the disruption or cancellation of important events, many designed to mark the end of a successful academic year and some of them the culmination of-literally-years of preparation or effort. Thank you all for your understanding. The Admissions Office showed its professionalism and dedication in its handling of the truncated Jumbo Days program and in helping our admitted students and their families return home. I cannot imagine a better way to show those visitors the caring spirit that defines this university.

This has been an anxious week for all of us. We will review our emergency policies, procedures and communications in order to understand any lessons to be learned and improvements that can be made. We appreciate the thoughtful suggestions already made by members of the Tufts community and welcome your further comments, which can be directed to me or to Kevin Maguire in Public and Environmental Safety. We seek always to do the best job we can when it comes to the safety of our community.

It is important that we all continue to reach out and support each other in the days ahead. The Chaplaincy invites all members of the community to a special gathering this coming Monday, April 22, from 12:15 to 1:00 pm in Goddard Chapel. This nondenominational event will offer a chance to reflect on the events of the past few days while thinking about how their lessons may positively inform our lives and actions going forward.

The success of the Tufts Marathon Team has always depended on its powerful combination of individual endurance and generous teamwork. At noon tomorrow, we will hold a special medal ceremony on the President's Lawn on the Medford/Somerville campus for those runners on the 2013 Tufts Marathon Team who were not allowed to complete their Boston Marathon. I hope many of you will join us there. I cannot imagine a more fitting way to affirm our shared values as a university community.

Best wishes,

Tony Monaco

The Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses will be moving to fully operational status as a number of events on both campuses are expected to resume throughout the day. Please check with the event organizer for further information on a specific event. We expect regular curricular and co-curricular activities will resume as scheduled after 5 p.m. 

Please note that in addition to those previously stated, the following facilities on the Medford/Somerville campus will also be open Saturday, April 20th: 

•   The Edwin Ginn Library at The Fletcher School will open. See their site for details on extended hours: http://www.library.tufts.edu/ginn/

•   The Mayer Campus Center will be open regular hours

Details on other facilities open today can be found in the 11 p.m. update: http://announcements.tufts.edu/item/?id=1139

Thank you.

The Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses of Tufts University will remain closed until 5pm on Saturday, April 20, as previously announced. A limited number of campus facilities will be open, as listed below.

The closure affects all curricular and co-curricular activities on the Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses with start times before 5:00pm on Saturday, April 20. Such activities, including all student organization events, remain cancelled. A limited number of exceptions - including the women's lacrosse game - are also listed below.

The following facilities on the Boston campus will be open Saturday:
• Hirsh Health Sciences Library will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:00am-7:00pm.

The following facilities on the Medford/Somerville campus will be open Saturday:
• The two shuttle routes that have been operating today will continue service until 2:00am this evening. Please see http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/adminsvc/april-19-dining-hall-shuttles/ for route information, route maps, and boarding instructions.
• The Joey shuttle service will resume its regular hours beginning at 10:00am on Saturday.
• Carmichael and Dewick dining centers. Carmichael will be operating with extended morning hours, opening at 8:00am for continental breakfast service. Dewick will be open normal Saturday hours opening at 8:00am.
• Tisch Library will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:00am-9:00pm.
• The Health Service will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:30am-5:00pm.
• Tisch Sports and Fitness Center and Cousens Gymnasium will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:00am-7:00pm.
• Hamilton Pool will be open normal Saturday hours, 12:00-7:00pm.

As noted above, all curricular and co-curricular activities with start times before 5:00pm Saturday, including all outdoor activities, are cancelled with the following exceptions:
• The women's lacrosse game against Wesleyan will be held at Tufts at 3:00pm.
• Saturday services will take place as usual at the Granoff Family Hillel Center.
• Away games with athlete transportation arranged by Tufts will take place.
• As previously announced, the University Counseling and Mental Health Service invites students to participate in a workshop for those who would like support concerning events related to the Boston Marathon, 4:00-5:00pm, Saturday, at Sawyer House, 120 Curtis Street. See today’s 3:15pm update for more details: http://announcements.tufts.edu/

The university encourages members of the Tufts community to use time Saturday to turn to each other for support and reflection. We thank the community for their patience throughout this difficult week. We will continue to monitor the situation, but do not anticipate any further updates.

Multiple news outlets are reporting that the second marathon bombing suspect is in police custody. More detailed communication to follow later this evening.

The university continues to monitor the evolving situation in the Boston area.

While public officials have now lifted the shelter-in-place orders previously affecting Watertown and surrounding communities, the Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses of Tufts University will remain closed on Saturday, April 20.

We continue to urge members of the university community to avoid unnecessary travel and remain vigilant. Please report any suspicious activity to the Tufts University Police Department or call 911.

All curricular and co-curricular activities on the Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses with start times before 5:00pm tomorrow, Saturday, April 20, remain cancelled unless specifically announced. Please see the university’s update of 5:00pm today for details of tomorrow’s closures and the limited facilities open and activities taking place: http://announcements.tufts.edu

We will continue to update the community as news becomes available and will announce plans for activities with start times after 5:00pm Saturday in a message before noon tomorrow.

The Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses of Tufts University will remain closed on Saturday, April 20. A limited number of campus facilities will be open as noted below.

We are monitoring the evolving situation in the Boston area carefully and continue to maintain increased police presence on the Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses. We encourage everyone to stay inside if possible. Do not congregate outside, and use caution if you must go out. Your personal safety is of utmost importance, so if you are in the affected communities please follow the instruction of the police.

The closure affects all curricular and co-curricular activities on the Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses with start times before 5:00pm tomorrow, Saturday, April 20. Such activities, including all student organization events, are cancelled. A limited number of exceptions are noted below.

We will announce plans for activities with start times after 5:00pm Saturday in a message before noon tomorrow.

The following facilities on the Boston campus will be open Saturday:
• Hirsh Health Sciences Library will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:00am-7:00pm.

The following facilities on the Medford/Somerville campus will be open Saturday:
• The two shuttle routes that have been operating today will continue service until 2:00am this evening. Shuttle service will resume at 7:45am on Saturday. Please see http://publicsafety.tufts.edu/adminsvc/april-19-dining-hall-shuttles/ for route information, route maps, and boarding instructions.
• Carmichael and Dewick dining centers. Carmichael will be operating with extended morning hours, opening at 8:00am for continental breakfast service. Dewick will be open normal Saturday hours opening at 8:00am.
• Tisch Library will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:00am-9:00pm.
• The Health Service will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:30am-5:00pm.
• Tisch Sports and Fitness Center and Cousens Gymnasium will be open normal Saturday hours, 10:00am-7:00pm.
• Hamilton Pool will be open normal Saturday hours, 12:00-7:00pm.

We will inform the community if the decision is made to open additional campus facilities tomorrow.

As noted above, all curricular and co-curricular activities with start times before 5:00pm Saturday, including all outdoor activities, are cancelled with the following exceptions:
• Saturday services will take place as usual at the Granoff Family Hillel Center.
• Away games with athlete transportation arranged by Tufts will take place.
• As previously announced, the University Counseling and Mental Health Service invites students to participate in a workshop for those who would like support concerning events related to the Boston Marathon, 4:00-5:00pm, Saturday, at Sawyer House, 120 Curtis Street. See today’s 3:15pm update for more details: http://announcements.tufts.edu/

We will continue to update the community as news becomes available.

Boston and Medford/Somerville Campuses Closed Today 

April 19, 2013 - 6:56 AM

The Boston and Medford/Somerville campuses will be closed today, including all classes. Grafton will remain open for normal operations. All MBTA public transit service is suspended. See local news media for additional information, follow instructions of public authorities. Please visit www.tufts.edu for further updates on the situation.