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Resources for the WPI Community

Resources for the WPI Community



Peaceful Expression at WPI

An important part of the mission of a university in a free society is to encourage discussion and debate of important and controversial issues. The open exchange of views and opinions, and the free expression of ideas, is the cornerstone of higher education and a source of strength for our society.

The right of expression, of course, is not a license to violate the law, to engage in harassment, or to interfere with the rights of other people to express themselves. Therefore, members of the community need to conduct conversations in a spirit of openness and tolerance. We must be respectful of the viewpoints of others, even if we strongly disagree with them.

You may wish to express your feelings and opinions as a group. The university recognizes the rights of groups to gather in peaceful assemblies, and has designated outdoor locations where they may do so, including Reunion and Freeman plazas and the Quadrangle. Please remember, though, that any such gatherings must not unduly interfere with the business of the university or the ability of members of the community to move about the campus, and should be conducted in such a way so as not to endanger personal safety or health, or damage property.

Anyone who wishes to organize a peaceful assembly is asked to call the WPI Events Office at 508-831-5613. They will work with you to find a venue that provides opportunity to publicly deliver your message consistent with university practices and policies. If you have questions about WPI s policies on outdoor assembles, please contact the Office of Student Activities at 508-831-5291.

On-campus Television Viewing Locations

The following locations around campus are available for obtaining the latest news updates from Iraq:

  • Campus Center
    • Food Court area
    • Class of '48 Lounge
  • Campus lounge areas
    • Power Panel Lounge in Atwater Kent
    • Third Floor Lounge in Fuller Labs
    • Main floor lounge in Salisbury Labs
    • Billiards area in Campus Center

Additionally, CNN.com has simplified its homepage for the time being, making it a fast place to get news.

Questions about campus televisions and channel lineups should be directed to atc@wpi.edu

Channel Information

On lounge TV's (AK, FL, SL), channel 38 will carry CNN coverage and channel 39 is now the campus bulletin board. On the Campus Center billiards TV's and all residence hall TV's, channel 38 will carry CNN, channel 11 is the bulletin board, channel 12 is NASA and the SocComm Movie Channel, channel 31 is CNN, and channel 36 is MSNBC.

Help & Support Resources

In the coming weeks, it will be natural for students, their parents, faculty and staff to feel anxious and unsettled. Should you need to talk to someone or need help working through your response to the current situation, there are places on campus where you can turn for help and support. These include:

Emergency Preparedness at WPI

The events of Sept. 11, the war on terrorism and the recent development in Iraq have made all of us think more seriously about issues of safety and security. We wanted to take this opportunity to let you know that WPI has also done a great deal of thinking about these issues. Over the past several years, the university has put in place plans and procedures for responding to emergencies of all types, and has been regularly updating them as events warrant.

For many years, WPI has had an emergency preparedness plan in place, with a team of staff members prepared and trained to respond to a variety of crises. Since the events of Sept. 11, the Crisis Team has met regularly to continually update the university s emergency preparedness manual, which serves as our guide in the event of a crisis, and to develop effective procedures for keeping the community informed during such events. The Crisis Team, which includes representatives from Student Affairs, Campus Police, Environmental and Occupational Safety, Communications, Information Technology, and Academic Affairs, is prepared to meet at a moment s notice should a crisis occur.

Emergencies that affect the campus will most likely require that the Crisis Team and our own security and safety personnel coordinate their responses with a number of local, state and national law enforcement, public safety, emergency, and civil preparedness organizations. For that reason, WPI Campus Police stays in regular contact with these agencies and receives regular updates from them on best practices in safety and security. In addition, we have access to the pre-crisis actions developed by the Homeland Security Advisory System and we receive, on a regular basis, communications from the Department of Justice relative to stages of emergency preparedness nationally.

WPI has also participated in a number of emergency drills coordinated by local, state and federal authorities. These include a mock chemical accident two years ago, managed in coordination with local police and fire departments and local and state hazardous materials (HAZMAT) teams. A recent drill, hosted by WPI, was coordinated by local emergency management officials, along with state and federal emergency management agencies. It brought together a large number of agencies, at all levels that would be involved in the response to a number of potential terrorism-related threats.

These drills have been excellent opportunities to evaluate the thoroughness of our own emergency plans and to better understand how we would work with the many organizations whose missions it is to protect the safety, health and security of Americans in the event of a crisis.

Another element of our emergency preparedness activities concerns the chemical, biological and radiological materials we use in our research laboratories. Our Office of Environmental and Occupational Health works closely with researchers to assure that these materials are handled and stored in the safest manner possible. Recently, the office communicated with all principal investigators about implementing additional guidelines aimed at controlling access to and keeping careful inventories of the materials we use (none of which are among the so-called select agents, or special biohazardous materials, that are of special concern to the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health).

With the planning and other preparation work we have done, and with the contacts we have made, the Crisis Team believes that the university is as prepared as it can be for most emergency situations. It is, of course, impossible to be ready for every contingency, but we feel that we have taken all of the steps necessary to enable WPI to respond effectively, and to safeguard the WPI community, regardless of the nature of the crisis.

A crisis plan is an essential component of any emergency preparedness system, but emergency plans are only useful if they are kept up to date. That is why the WPI Crisis Team will continue to meet and monitor the state of affairs locally and nationally and will work to continually review our emergency plans and preparations as world events evolve and the threat of terrorism continues. In all that we do, the safety and security of all members of the WPI community will remain foremost in our minds. We will also do our best to keep the lines of communication open, both to our campus community and our external family, especially should it prove necessary to respond to potential threats to the university.

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP): A Vital Support in War and Peace

In light of President Bush's address to the nation, war with Iraq appears inevitable. This is a grave matter. There are trials ahead for our Armed Services, for their families, and for this nation as a whole. We do not know precisely what form these trials will take, but we can anticipate much. You may already be thinking about what this may mean for you and your family. We would like to remind you of the services we are provided by your Employee Assistance Program (EAP).

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) - an essential on-going source of support. The stress of today and the days ahead will impact all of us. We encourage you to remind your eligible household members that the EAP is available to them on a 24-hour basis. You and your household members can call our toll-free number, 1-800-828-6025, just to talk to someone or to make arrangements to be seen for counseling sessions close to home or work. Individuals who are overseas can contact us through our main number, 508-842-2780. There is always a clinician available.

The Web site - A source of timely information. In times of uncertainty we all seek answers. Our Web site, www.wellnesscorp.com, is designed to provide timely information, and to address a broad range of concerns. Under the button The World Today, you will find helpful articles and links on such topics as "How to Talk to Children," and "Disaster Preparedness." The section Times of Conflict provides a library of articles, some specifically for people with family members serving in the military, as well as additional links, and audio and video clips.

Budget and Debt Counseling - answers for your financial concerns War will inevitably have an adverse effect on the economy. You may have concerns about your own or a spouse or partner's job-security. If you or a household member is in the Reserves or National Guard and are called up for active duty, you may experience a loss of income. If you have concerns about your financial situation, support is available through the budget and debt counseling service that is a part your EAP.

While we do not know what lies ahead and we are not, perhaps, free from all fears, we are ready to support you and your organization.

webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: Friday, 14-Jan-2005 15:40:53 EST
 
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