Updates from Leadership on Lewiston Mass Shooting

Saturday, Oct. 28, at 10:45 a.m.

Community Update and Coming Together

Dear UNE Community,

Today, we join the rest of Maine in breathing a collective sigh of relief that the search for the person responsible for taking the lives of 18 innocent souls and injuring 13 additional ones is over. This conclusion does not restore the losses of the families whose loved ones perished in a most cruel and unjust way. But it does allow them, and all of us, to begin the process of grieving, and eventually, to healing.

Maine is a beautiful and special place, a place we are proud to call home. While it continues to be one of the safest parts of the nation, we now know that we are not immune to extreme acts of violence that plague our society. In the coming days, we will continue to process what has happened, hold our loved ones close, and support one another. 

We invite the UNE Community to come together this week for a student-organized vigil. We will gather on Wednesday, November 1, at 4:45 p.m. on the Ripich Commons lawn to honor the lives lost in the Lewiston mass shootings and to recognize the impact on our community. 

As we have already seen, this act of mass violence, which is all too familiar to Americans, raises important questions about assault weapons and the systems that allow them to end up in the hands of dangerous individuals. We encourage conversations about these issues, and we urge lawmakers to enact commonsense policies to put an end to the epidemic of mass shootings in this country.

This weekend, as we carry on with normal activities – celebrating Halloween, going to sporting events, experiencing nature, and enjoying the company of family and friends – we carry the memories of the Lewiston victims with us. It is our hope that you can take comfort in one another and in the spirit of community that makes our state and our University so wonderful.

With care,

James D. Herbert

President

 

Friday, Oct. 27, at 4:40 a.m.

Update on Campus Operations, Friday, Oct. 27

Dear UNE Community,

The events of the last day and a half have been extremely difficult for us all. We are fortunate to live in one of the safest areas of the country. Although mass shootings have become far too common elsewhere in America, we don’t expect this to happen here in Maine. As a community, we are heartbroken for the 18 people killed Wednesday and the 13 people who were injured. We are aware that there are members of our community who have lost acquaintances or loved ones to this tragic act of violence, and we offer our deepest condolences to them. The loved ones of victims are no doubt experiencing unspeakable pain, and our hearts go out to them and to the entire city of Lewiston. 

As we grieve for the victims of this senseless act, we continue to carefully monitor the ongoing investigation and search for the perpetrator. At this time, based on the information available and through close consultation with local law enforcement, we have no reason to believe that there is an elevated risk to the Biddeford or Portland communities where our campuses are located. Given the current state of the investigation, we have therefore made the decision to resume classes and normal University operations, including athletics activities, today. We will continue to provide additional security on both campuses. Anyone living within the communities still under a shelter-in-place order will not be expected to come to campus. 

At the same time, we recognize that some students, such as those who have a direct connection to the events in Lewiston, may have left campus or are not yet ready to resume classes today. Thus, while classes will be held on a normal Friday schedule and while we encourage students to participate as usual, we will ask the faculty to give students who are unable to attend class the option of an excused absence and to work with students to provide options for making up any missed assignments without penalty. Additionally, whereas all faculty and professional staff are expected to work today, if an employee is experiencing extenuating circumstances that they believe might prevent them from working, they should communicate directly with their supervisor to discuss.

We understand that this ongoing situation and the lack of resolution is unsettling, and yet our Nor’easter community is demonstrating incredible strength and resilience. We are supporting and caring for one another. I spoke with many of you on the Biddeford Campus yesterday, and I was moved and encouraged by your positivity in the face of such a dark day in our state. 

In times like this, it is vital that we take care of ourselves, our loved ones, and each other as we navigate this situation. Please continue to monitor your email for updates as further information becomes available. 

Sincerely, 

James D. Herbert

President

 

Thursday, Oct. 26, at 7:26 p.m. 

Update on Campus Operations Friday

Dear UNE Community,

We are reaching out with a brief update on campus operations following the horrific mass shooting in Lewiston Wednesday night. We continue to carefully monitor the ongoing investigation and search for the perpetrator. Given the evolving nature of the situation, it is too early to determine the status of our operations tomorrow, October 27. We ask that the community monitor email, and we will plan to send an update by 5 a.m.

In the meantime, we encourage the Nor’easter community to continue to support and care for one another as we join the state of Maine and the nation in grieving.  

Sincerely,

Gwendolyn Mahon

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jim Irwin

Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration

 

Thursday, Oct. 26 at 8 a.m.

President James Herbert and Provost Gwendolyn Mahon have issued the following statement and update on University operations in response to the mass casualty incident in Lewiston, Maine.

Dear UNE Community,

We are writing with an update on classes and operations following the horrific mass shooting in Lewiston last night. As you have seen through our alert system, out of an abundance of caution, we have made the decision to cancel classes and close the Biddeford and Portland campuses today. Here are additional details about what this means for University operations. 

First, UNE ID card access will be required for all buildings on both campuses, and the Office of Safety and Security will have additional patrols on both campuses today. 

Although some campus operations will be limited, many services and spaces for students will remain open, including dining facilities, the Campus Center and the Harold Alfond Forum on the Biddeford Campus, Student Health Services, and the libraries on both campuses. 

Faculty and professional staff should be in contact with their supervisors to determine whether remote work today is appropriate. 

Finally, we encourage our entire community to take care of themselves, their families, and their loved ones during this unprecedented event. A reminder that UNE’s on-call counseling service is available to students 24/7 and can be reached by calling (207) 602-2549 and pressing 6. Faculty and professional staff can find support through the Employee Assistance Program.

The UNE Community joins the entire state of Maine and nation in mourning this tragic loss of life. We will continue to send additional updates as needed, so please continue to monitor your email.

Sincerely,

James D. Herbert

President 

Gwendolyn Mahon 

Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs