Editor’s Note: This is a letter to the Santa Monica College community from SMC President Dr. Tsui Chang at 8:58 pm Friday night regarding today’s deadly shootings.
Dear Members of the Santa Monica College Community,
The emergency situation in our community and on SMC’s main campus is now stabilized. They are continuing the investigation on campus. Please stay away from the campus through the weekend to allow law enforcement to complete the investigation.
In support of law officials all activities and classes on the main campus are closed Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The main campus will reopen on Monday.
We send our condolences to the victims of this tragic event.
I want to reiterate that today’s incident was not a school shooting. It began off campus and was the result of a shooting suspect attempting to evade officers by running on to the campus.
We deplore this type of senseless violence. The true measure of a great institution is in how it responds in its darkest hour. I ask our students, faculty and staff to please check in on each other, help those who need it, and make sure your friends and colleagues are aware of counseling and other services we can offer. I want to assure everyone in our college community that we continue to be dedicated to making certain that Santa Monica College is safe and secure and work with law enforcement to accomplish that.
Thank you.
Chui L. Tsang
Santa Monica College
