Despite Attack, University Stays Open

As students and administrators grapple with the scope of the largest terrorist attack ever on U.S. soil, University administrators are trying s to respond to the unprecedented events.

Immediately after yesterday’s attacks, University officials set up a command post in Holyoke Center and beefed up staffing at the Operations Center that oversees facilities. The Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) also added patrols and briefed President Lawrence H. Summers on security threats and concerns around the campus.

“The University is, of course, very concerned about the safety of campus,” HUPD spokesperson Steven G. Catalano said.

Many HUPD officers were called in early or asked to stay late last night to help ensure an increased police presence around campus.

Following the closure of other tall buildings in Boston, the University evacuated William James Hall as a safety precaution. Additional officers were stationed at the main entrances to campus to regulate vehicular traffic and at key buildings around campus.

At the Holyoke command center yesterday, officials scrambled to coordinate and disseminate information throughout Harvard as staff watched the events unfold on a television projector screen.

Though the majority of Harvard’s various schools suspended classes and other business, many remained at least partially open in order to provide students and faculty with a place to gather to watch the unfolding tragedy.

Kennedy School of Government Dean Joseph S. Nye, Jr. led a discussion at the ARCO R Forum among students, faculty and foreign policy experts about the day’s events. Similar events and counseling sessions were held at many other schools.

“A lot of people wonder why they’re not being ordered to go home, but in a time of crisis like this, people tend to bond—in fact, a lot of people have told me they don’t want to go home,” said former Sen. David Pryor, Institute of Politics director, and one of the lead coordinator’s of yesterday’s events at the Kennedy School.

While the College’s upperclass activities fair and registration proceeded as scheduled, the Divinity School postponed its Field Education Site Fair until next Monday.

Yesterday afternoon, Summers sent a University-wide e-mail addressing the bombings and the University’s response.

“This is a moment of incalculable sorrow and loss, and I hope we will all take care to support all members of our community during this terrible episode in the life of our nation and the world,” Summers wrote.

Staff also huddled around television sets, radios and computers awaiting word of loved ones and colleagues.

“It wasn’t an easy day for anyone,” Catalano said.

Initial concerns about a group of staff from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics traveling from Boston to L.A. yesterday morning were alleviated when the group reported they were safe in Canada where their flight had been diverted.

BF: LOOKING AHEAD:

Despite yesterday’s tragedies, all University offices, schools and classes will continue as normal today, according to the Harvard News Office. However, the University does plan to open counseling centers at each school today staffed with food, televisions and crisis counselors from University Health Services (UHS).

UHS will be facilitating blood donations from the University community beginning today. UHS planned to arrange for buses to shuttle affiliates from around campus to central donation points and may construct several on-campus donations sites as well. More information will be available on the University’s website, www.harvard.edu. UHS has also set up a special e-mail address to help people who would like to donate, donation@uhs.harvard.edu.

People who are willing to donate food or clothing are also urged to contact UHS.

--Staff writer Garrett M. Graff can be reached at ggraff@fas.harvard.edu

--Staff writer Kate L. Rakoczy can be reached at rakoczy@fas.harvard.edu.