I hope that you and your families are safe.
The catastrophe known as Hurricane Sandy has turned all of our lives upside down. Some of you have been more affected than others, but we are all one in having experienced the disruptive force of a natural disaster. I am sure that you will join with me in expressing our concern for our extended family of students, alumni, faculty, and staff – and our deep gratitude for the CUNY staff and volunteers and city workers and New Yorkers who kept us safe and will now lead the rebuilding effort.
We are awaiting word about when classes will resume. All CUNY classes have been cancelled through today, Wednesday, and campus buildings are closed. For those of you in Brookdale, we are in touch with Hunter to determine when the dorm will re-open.
We still have more questions than answers, but we will continue to communicate as quickly and clearly as possible. Our Macaulay building was unharmed and some staff members are there today, with more expected tomorrow. Please check www.macaulay.cuny.edu for updates and your campus home page. I can be contacted directly at dean@mhc.cuny.edu or call 212.729.2925.
As always, Macaulay students are eager to help. If you want to volunteer, please check www.nycservice.org. If you want to connect with classmates, you can send messages, form groups, start discussions, or just say a quick hello to anyone in the Macaulay community through http://my.macaulay.cuny.edu/directory/ and log in using your eportfolio account.
While none of us will forget the distress of yesterday, we took solace and great joy in the email that popped up in the morning from one of our colleagues, announcing the birth of a baby boy at the height of the storm. Life resumes!
Together, we will plan for the future.
With hope and best wishes to you and your family,
Ann Kirschner
University Dean
Macaulay Honors College