President David Wilson Provides Update to Morgan Parents and Families

Dear Morgan Parents, Caretakers and Family Members, 

Here at Morgan State University, effective communication is much more than a practice, it is a commitment that we hold with high regard. This commitment to communicating with and informing our community is ever more pertinent in times that challenge our resolve and mettle. We strongly believe that an informed campus community is essential to having a united campus community.

And so, therefore, as President of Morgan State University, it is a necessity for the parents and loved ones of our students to hear from me directly in the wake of tragic events such as the horrific event that fell upon our campus community earlier this week. Senseless violence of any kind has no place in our sacred institutions of higher learning — especially here at Morgan.

Throughout the events that have transpired over the last 48 hours, the University has been in constant communication with the entire community keeping everyone abreast of what is happening on campus. During this time, the University has communicated with the wider community in the following ways:

• Emergency Mobile Alert System – Students are encouraged to register with the Mobile Alert System so that when an emergency incident happens the students will receive an email and a text alert. The students can also register their parent’s cell phone number to receive the alerts.
• University Mobile App – The University uses its official mobile app to communicate with our community using push notifications. We encourage all our students and their parents to download the app.
• Social Media – The University maintains a robust communications outreach via its official social media channels. If you aren’t following the University on social media, we encourage you to do so immediately.
• Website & Emails – Morgan also posts emergency messages on the homepage of the University website and numerous emails were sent directly to the entirety of the Morgan Community (students, faculty and staff).

Please allow me to reiterate that the safety of our campus, particularly the safety of our students, is a priority and our commitment to safety is unwavering. We have put in place increased security measures throughout our campus, building upon enhancements that have been implemented in recent years to better illuminate, surveil, and secure our campus facilities and residence halls, as well as the ingress and egress of the university. We will not be deterred in our focus on maintaining a dynamic learning and living environment where the goal of safety permeates our entire campus. 

In response to the shooting incident, we have employed the following:

• Morgan State University Police Department (MSUPD) officer patrols have been significantly increased throughout campus for the rest of the week, and an armed university police officer has been permanently stationed in the area outside of the Thurgood Marshall Residence Hall where the incident took place.
• The reallocation of Morgan’s supplemental security force, with security personnel being strategically placed in high-traffic areas.
• Reinforcing the utilization of the MSUPD Safety Escort service, which is available from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m., by calling 443-885-3103. 

Supporting our Students

We are equally committed to the emotional and mental well-being of our campus. Recognizing the impact traumatic events can have, we moved decisively after much deliberation and consultation with our Board of Regents, members of my administration, student leaders and our University Council to cancel classes for the remainder of this week and turn our collective attention to meeting the needs of our students. Our Division of Student Affairs and other campus units have initiated campus-wide programming geared towards the health and welfare of our campus community.

For students experiencing emotional discomfort, our Counseling Center is open and available to offer support at the Center’s office located in Holmes Hall, as well as in the University Student Center Bear Lounge, where some Counseling Center staff have been stationed for convenient access for our students. For our parents seeking information about their students, we recommended contacting the dedicated staff from the Division of Student Affairs at 443-885-3527 where an onsite case worker is on hand to assist with your inquiries.

Students who may be unable to visit our Counseling Center in person, may access Uwill, an online 24-hour virtual counseling support service. If you are concerned about a student, you may fill out a Student Concern Report Form. A member of our Care Support Team will reach out to the student for a wellness check.

Investigation Update

Please be assured that University leadership is being briefed daily and hourly on the ensuing investigation by the chief of our MSUPD, who is working directly with the Baltimore Police Department (BPD), the lead law enforcement unit overseeing the investigation of the shooting that occurred on our campus. Understanding that this is an active investigation, we are only at liberty to share the updates that are made public by the BPD. At no time have we been unaware of what is happening with the investigation.

As these updates and new developments become available, we are updating the campus community appropriately to ensure that our Morgan family is fully informed. To that end, before midnight last evening, BPD released a video of several persons of interest possibly related to the incident that occurred. I am sharing it with you and encourage you to not only view it but circulate it in hopes that the perpetrator(s) of this atrocity will be identified and expeditiously brought to justice.

Morgan Strong 

As a Morgan Family, we are resilient and will emerge from these events stronger and resolute in our determination to represent the change in the world we envision. As a parent of a recent Morgan graduate, I know, all too well, the concern we have for our young people. We value your partnership and the trust you have placed in Morgan to be a transformative vessel in stewarding the matriculation of your loved ones.

I ask our entire Morgan Family to keep our injured students in prayer as they recover from this heinous act of violence. Together, as a family and a united community, we will rise above this moment and reaffirm Morgan’s mark as one of this nation’s most consequential institutions.

Respectfully,

 
David K. Wilson
President