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Speeches and Writings
President Benson's Statement March 10, 2008 Dear Students, Faculty, and Staff: It is with great sadness that colleges and universities nationwide come together to mourn the tragic loss of two students this past week. As you may have heard, on March 4th, Lauren Burk, a freshman at Auburn University in Alabama, was shot and killed several miles from campus. On March 5th, Eve Carson, a senior, student body president, and Morehead-Cain Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was shot and killed in a suburban neighborhood near campus. Eve was a close friend of my family. She played varsity soccer with my daughters at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia and was a role model for them and countless other high school students in Athens. My family is in a state of shock over the loss of this remarkable young woman. Please join me in sending thoughts and prayers to the families, friends, and campus communities of both of these students. Once again, the brevity and uncertainty of life has been thrust to the forefront of our campuses. This senseless violence causes each of us to question our safety, our security, and our futures. Please continue to look after each other and be ever mindful of your personal safety. Remember that College public safety officers are available to assist you. There are 43 orange emergency call boxes around campus, and campus police can be reached at 953-5609 for information and assistance, or at 953-5611 for emergencies. For off-campus emergencies, don’t hesitate to contact the Charleston Police Department by dialing 911. Peer Assistance Leaders (P.A.L.) also are available off campus to assist students. These student volunteers have been through orientation training with the Charleston Police Department and will help you should you need a ride home or any other assistance. They are out on Friday nights on the streets between Cannon and Wentworth and from East Bay through the Market area. They wear easily identifiable yellow jackets with the P.A.L. logo on the front. My intention is not to alarm you, but to encourage you to be alert at all times on and off campus, particularly in light of these recent acts of violence. If you would like to talk to a professional about your security concerns, Counseling Center staff are available at the Walk-in Clinic, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Appointments are also available from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please reach out to us if you need assistance. We cherish each one of you and want you to be safe. P. George Benson President |
