A message from President Haas

Grand Valley State University President Thomas J. Haas sent a message to the campus community on March 31:

Whenever we lose a member of our student family it is a tragic event.  It is also a time of great personal sadness and grief for the student's family, friends, classmates, and our faculty and staff.  I offer my condolences to the families and friends of the students whose unrelated deaths have left us heavy hearted.

College can be stressful, and the death of a close friend adds to that stress level.  Our Counseling Center has programs available to assist those who are grieving the loss of a classmate.  Grand Valley's reputation for personal attention is nowhere better demonstrated than in the support we make available in times of need.

As we reflect upon these sad incidents, I want to once again urge our students to make wise and healthy choices.  Let's reaffirm our commitment to take care of each other, to be sensitive to the issues that others face, and to be vigilant in finding immediate assistance for our friends when circumstances warrant.

Thomas J. Haas
President
Grand Valley State University