Monday, April 23, 2007

Letter to the Urban College, ABCD, and Extended Communities

RE:       Events at Virginia Tech

“We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and

through our sadness… We will prevail; we will prevail; we will prevail. WE ARE VIRGINIA TECH!”

--- Nikki Giovanni, Virginia Tech University Distinguished Professor, Poet, and Activist

The events that occurred last week at Virginia Tech have deeply affected the Urban College community just as they have shocked the entire higher education community, the nation and the world.

The Urban College of Boston community mourns those who were lost, prays for the injured survivors, and sends our sympathy and prayers to their friends, families, students and faculty at Virginia Tech. On Friday, April 20, the Urban College community observed the nationwide

12:00 noon moment of silence to remember the victims. 

I am a proud graduate (Undergraduate, MBA and Ph.D.) of Virginia Tech and I have taught there as well. Over the years I have been active with the alumni, working on various commissions and advisory groups. My most recent visit to Tech was just a few weeks ago in March of 2007. So, I know first hand about the beautiful campus, the strength of the community and the “Hokie Spirit”.  Hopefully these strong and positive images of Virginia Tech will prevail as we endure these difficult days.

My sincere appreciation and thanks go to my Urban College family, the Action for Boston Community Development community, and many others for your e-mails, telephone calls, visits and words of encouragement.  I have already passed along your supportive deeds to my family at Virginia Tech.

Sincerely,

Dr. Linda Edmonds Turner, Ph.D.

President

Urban College of Boston

Virginia Tech Class of 1970