[bioundgrd] Today 11-12noon and 2-3pm

[Janice Chang]

Dear students,

There will be faculty available today in room 68-121 from 11-noon and 2-3pm, along with snacks and drinks. We care and would like to see you before you leave.


With all best wishes,
Janice


***********************
Janice Chang | Educational Administrator | Department of Biology | MIT
rm:68-120 | ph: 617.253.7344 | jdchang at mit.ed

> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: Alan D Grossman <adg at mit.edu>
> Subject: [Biofac] a message to our undergraduates
> Date: March 12, 2020 at 11:16:45 PM EDT
> To: bioundgrd <bioundgrd at mit.edu>
> Cc: bioinstructors <bioinstructors at mit.edu>, biostaff <biostaff at mit.edu>, biofac <biofac at mit.edu>
> 
> Dear Biology Undergraduates,
> 
> I am so sorry for what you are currently going through. We are all experiencing a wide range of emotions related to the drastic and sudden changes, and the impact the coronavirus pandemic is having on our community.  We know that this is particularly acute for our undergraduates, and especially for our seniors who are being sent away from what has been your home for the past 3.5 years.  We are ‘sending you home’, but in reality, it feels to me like we are sending you away from home. As difficult as this is for the faculty, I cannot imagine how difficult the situation is for you.  
> 
> We are dismayed that you are leaving prematurely.  We will miss you, and we understand how difficult this is for you.  Please know that we care, we would like to see you before you leave, and that we will support you in whatever ways we can.  Reach out to the faculty and staff if there is any way that we can help.  
> 
> As I hope you know, we will have faculty available in 68-121 on Friday 3/13 from 11-12 and 2-3, along with snacks and drinks (bars, chips, etc., no ‘communal’ food).  
> 
> To make matters worse, I just received the emergency alert from MIT about no classes tomorrow and the accelerated move-out.  I want you to know that all of these measures are being taken to reduce the rate of spread of COVID-19.  The vast majority of students (unless there is a significant underlying health issue) have very very low risk of any type of serious illness.  There is higher risk to others in our community and the overall goal of social distancing is to reduce the rate of spread of the virus.  A reduction in the rate of spread will better enable the health care system to function and treat people with serious illness.  Please rest assured that you are at little personal risk, and that these measures are for public health reasons and to reduce the risk to others in the community.
> 
> What is happening right now is historic, locally, nationally, and world-wide.  I encourage you to record, in writing or verbally, your thoughts and experiences.  I think this could be personally beneficial and I would like for the department and/or MIT to collect, collate, and share and archive the communications about your experiences.  You will reminisce about this when you come back to MIT for various reunions! 
> 
> Lastly, I want to emphasize an approach to life situations that I have found quite useful.  There are things over which we have some control, and other things over which we have little or no control.  I have found it quite helpful to focus on the things that I have some control over, and to avoid obsessing or even worrying about things that are out of my control. In this crisis, we can control our actions, the precautions we take to protect ourselves and members of our community, and how we treat others.  Please focus on these things and look for the small positives that will result from this dire situation.  
> 
> From a distance, you will all remain part of our community and we will get through this.  
> 
> Please stay well and safe. 
> 
> Alan Grossman
> 
> 
> Alan D. Grossman
> Professor and Head
> Department of Biology
> Building 68-530
> M.I.T.
> Cambridge, MA   02139
> 
> (617) 253-1515
> adg at mit.edu <mailto:adg at mit.edu>
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/bioundgrd/attachments/20200313/46d7af68/attachment-0001.html
-------------- next part --------------
A non-text attachment was scrubbed...
Name: smime.p7s
Type: application/pkcs7-signature
Size: 1846 bytes
Desc: not available
Url : http://mailman.mit.edu/pipermail/bioundgrd/attachments/20200313/46d7af68/attachment-0001.bin