Communications

Date: November 15, 2012

To: U.Va. Parents of First-, Second-, and Third-Year Students

From: Patricia M. Lampkin, Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer

Re: Student Safety around Tonight’s Football Game

Dear Parents:

The Cavaliers’ last home football game of the season takes place tonight against North Carolina. For many students, this will be an occasion to have a good time with friends. Most of them will do so responsibly and safely, whether or not their celebration includes alcohol.

A small number of students, however, may use this occasion to engage in high-risk drinking. Our extensive educational efforts emphasize the consequences this can bring, including serious illness, injury, missed classes, and other negative outcomes. Equally important are the reminders about how to help someone who may have drunk too much and needs medical attention.

As a parent, you can help reinforce these messages to your son or daughter. Take a minute today to send your student a text or email, and be explicit if you have concerns about their plans for celebrating. This is also a good opportunity to remind your student about general safety.

Yesterday, I sent students an email with reminders about safety around a nighttime game. The primary purpose of the email was to address concerns that have arisen in recent days over the way in which the University communicated about an attempted abduction that occurred in close proximity to the Grounds in the early hours of Friday, Nov. 9. University Police acted in a prescribed, customary manner, and the assailant was arrested shortly after the incident. We recognize, however, that improvements can be made in how we share such information with students and how we communicate about reports issued by the Charlottesville Police Department, which made the arrest and investigated the incident. I hope you will take a moment to read the message, which offers considerable more detail.

This is a busy and exciting, but often stressful, time of year for students. As they look forward to next week’s break, they also know that the end of classes and exams await them when they return. If you sense that your student needs additional support at this time, please remind her or him of the many resources available at the University.

Best wishes to you and your entire family for a joyful and restful Thanksgiving holiday.

Sincerely,

Patricia M. Lampkin
Vice President and Chief Student Affairs Officer