The message below was sent by Marymount University President Irma Becerra to students, staff, faculty and Board of Trustees members on Wednesday, February 2.
Dear Marymount Community,
Today, our flags at the North Glebe Road entrance to Main Campus are at half-staff in honor of the campus police officer and campus security officer who were both killed while on duty yesterday at Bridgewater College as they responded to an active shooter situation. This heartbreaking event was caused by a single perpetrator, and the suspect is now in custody. I have reached out to Bridgewater’s President, expressing that our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two fallen officers as well as the entire Bridgewater College community during this difficult time.
That tragic event followed bomb threats that have been made against Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the country, including in the D.C. area at Howard University and the University of the District of Columbia. While we are fortunate at Marymount to have not encountered situations in recent days like these other institutions have, I know how moments like these can be stressful for all. That’s why I want to take this opportunity to remind our student body that Student Counseling Services is available for support (click here for contact and appointment information). For employees, we offer free, confidential counseling services through our Employee Assistance Program , as well as professional counseling and therapy services for employees covered by our CareFirst health care plan.
I want our campus community to rest assured that Marymount’s threat assessment team and Office of Campus Safety and Emergency Management are continuously monitoring threats that are made in the region, and we’re in constant communication with local, state and federal agencies before and during emergency situations. We also have procedures and policies in place to respond to a variety of emergencies, from active shooter situations and bomb threats to fires and power outages. Please click here to review these procedures. We plan to increase awareness and training opportunities to prepare for potential situations like these in the near future.
Additionally, I want to encourage you to download LiveSafe if you haven’t already. This app allows you to receive emergency alerts and non-emergency notifications from the University, and provides a two-way chat function for reporting suspicious activity to Campus Safety. We also have an anonymous tip line that can be utilized as well.
Here at Marymount, we are wholeheartedly committed to providing our Saints a safe environment to live, learn and work, and your well-being is always our first priority. Please take care of yourselves, and be safe.
Sincerely,
Irma Becerra, Ph.D.
President
