The campus community continues to respond to the events of September 11 with a variety of programming of both an individual and academic nature.

HELP WITH COPING: The University Counseling Center will sponsor an informational session to help students and others cope with the events of September 11 at 3 p.m. Thursday, October 18 in the UU-East Lounge. On Tuesday, October 23, Donald Glauber of the Counseling Center will lead an Employee Assistance Program–sponsored discussion, “September 11: How Are We Coping?” from noon-1 p.m. in AD-148.

FACULTY SENATE COORDINATES PROGRAMS: The executive committee of the Faculty Senate has formed an ad hoc committee to plan campus programming about the events of September 11 and the U.S. response to terrorism. The committee, chaired by Donald Quartaert, professor of history, is charged with encouraging a diverse range of campus programming aimed at increasing the campus community’s understanding of these events. David Payne, dean of the Graduate School, will serve as the administration’s representative. Faculty members include, Safia Mohsen, associate professor of anthropology; Reinhard Bernbeck, assistant professor of anthropology; Dara Silberstein, associate director of the Women’s Studies program; Ricardo Laremont, of the history, political science and sociology departments; Barbara Regenspan, assistant professor of education; and Mark Blumler, assistant professor of geography. The Student Association and the Graduate Student Association have also been asked to nominate representatives to the committee. For more information on the committee, contact Quataert at 777-2625, or by e-mail at dquataer@binghamton.edu.

NSF OFFERS GRANTS: Faculty researchers contemplating research about the events of September 11 and its aftermath may be eligible to apply for Small Grants for Exploratory Research from the National Science Foundation. The NSF will fund qualified proposals through its exploratory research small grant program which provides up to $100,000 for exploratory research and uses an expedited review process. Interested researchers should contact the University’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at 777-6136.

PACKAGE INVESTIGATED: A member of the University secretarial staff in the Computing Center on Monday, October 15, reported receiving a package in the mail leaking a white powdery substance.

The individual did not open the package and immediately contacted University Police who responded by isolating the area. The individual and a second person who also touched the package were directed to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocol which includes washing hands with soap and water and removing contaminated clothing. The campus Hazardous Materials team responded and followed the appropriate clean-up protocol.

University Police have contacted local, state authorities and the FBI. The package has been removed from the area and will be tested. The company that sent the package has been contacted.

University Police report that this appears to be a low-risk incident but they are taking this incident seriously and all precautionary procedures have been followed. The campus community is reminded to use caution and to contact University Police about questionable substances.

For additional information regarding handling mail, see http://www.binghamton.edu/home/updates/mailhandling.html