West VirginiaUniversity officials say classes will remain in session while the nation is at war, and students, faculty and staff should feel confident that campus security plans are in place, along with expedited procedures for those facing military call-up, added support services for those in need of counseling or medical attention and other initiatives.

“In times of national crisis like the world experienced on Sept. 11, 2001, and the escalating tensions abroad, it is important to maintain a routine and to go about your life and business as much as possible,”said WVU President David C. Hardesty Jr.”Unless there is reason to do otherwise, we will continue with classes and programming and do what we need to do on a campus security and emotional level to protect the health and well-being of our students and employees.”

Hardesty said key leaders have been meeting to map out strategies and provide helpful information to the University community as the war on terrorism and in Iraq continues. Some of those include reminding faculty, staff and students of services available through WVU s Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services (293-4431), the Faculty-Staff Assistance Program (293-5590) and the Student Health Service (293-6978) to treat conditions such as stress, anxiety, fear and anger; and reminding students of the many on-campus extracurricular activities such as WVUp All Night and the Student Recreation Center that offer stress relief and alternatives.

Other support services include assistance for WVU s approximately 1,300 international students, scholars and their families through the International Student Office, headed by Peter Li (293-3519), and information regarding the approximately 30 students studying abroad this semester through the Office of International Programs, managed by Jeff DeGrave (293-6955).

Other administrators will be watching for appropriate community service projects to engage in, while some will organize appropriate campus-wide forums for open dialogue and discussion as needed.

Already, WVU has helped approximately 60 students and more than a dozen faculty and staff withdraw and/or take leave due to military service.

For more information on employee military leave, call the Department of Human Resources, 304-293-5700, ext. 5. WVU employees can access the policy on line at http://intranet.wvu.edu/ and click on Human Resources.

Student withdrawal policies are available online at http://www.arc.wvu.edu , or call Admissions Assistant Director Kenton Colvin, 304-293-2124, ext. 1515.

As tensions escalate here and abroad and the nation faces a”high alert”status, Chief Bob Roberts said local, state, federal and all applicable laws will be applied to any offenders caught defacing property with slogans for or against war; placing bogus bomb threats; engaging in other physical threats or violence; and in any potential harmful situations.

Roberts said keeping in mind the Universitys new Freedom of Expression policy(http://www.wvu.edu/~policies/policy11.pdf ), he reminded employees and students that the free exchange of ideas on the campus grounds is welcome and a constitutional right, including the distribution of written or printed materials, protests, gesturing, standing or wearing expressive clothing �€and is only subject to time, place and manner restrictions such as impeding classes or blocking the flow of vehicular traffic. Outdoor assembly areas may be reserved in advance by recognized WVU organizations and departments with more than 50 participants, but are not required. To do so, call 293-8201.

To report suspicious or illegal activity, call Roberts at 293-3136 or email bob.roberts@mail.wvu.edu

To reach the Mountaineer Parents Club Helpline, call 1-800-WVU-0096.

WVU will post updated war-related information periodically to the WVU web site (http://www.wvu.edu)along with the employee Intranet (http://intranet.wvu.edu)and the student MIX .