Statement on the Incidents of December 14-16

Dear Tufts International Community Members:

We are writing in light of the recent bomb and security threats that have been made against the Medford / Somerville campus starting on December 14 and continuing on December 15 and 16. We share the concern and distress that these incidents have caused, coming at an already-stressful time when students are finishing their Fall semester and completing their final examinations. We deplore these threats and reaffirm our commitment to the safety and well-being of all of our community members during these stressful times.

Getting Support and Assistance

As outlined in announcements made by the President’s Office as well as other campus units, students are encouraged to reach out and utilize resources such as Counseling and Mental Health Services, which is open daily from 9am – 5pm. A counselor-on-call is available during after hours at 617-627-3360. Other support centers and resources include these offices and programs:

• Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion
• Dean of Student Affairs Office
• Ears for Peers
• University Chaplaincy

We know that many international students are concerned about the impact of the recent events on the remainder of their fall semester. If you have questions specific to your classes, we encourage you to discuss your concerns with your individual faculty and instructors, who have been asked by their deans to provide reasonable and flexible accommodations in light of the disruptions caused by these incidents. Additionally, the International Center is continuing to encourage academic units to take into account the potential complications faced by international students who need to travel internationally in the coming days.

If you have additional concerns relating to campus conditions for the remainder of the semester going into the winter break, please let me know by sending an email to Andrew.Shiotani@tufts.edu and/or contacting the Dean of Student Affairs office, linked above.

Emergency and Winter Break Services

While the International Center is closed from 2pm on December 22 – 9am on Tuesday, January 3rd, we will be monitoring our email account at internationalcenter@tufts.edu on a regular basis throughout the break in the event of any immigration-related emergency situations. You can also contact the Tufts University Police Department at any time with fire / police / medical emergencies as well as non-urgent questions.

For the most recent updates on campus conditions, follow Tufts Announcements and considering signing up for Mobile Alerts, if you have not done so already.

During this extraordinarily unusual and stressful time, it is important to prioritize your health, wellbeing, and safety. Please take care of yourself and those around you as we work to support one another through these challenges.

Best regards and best wishes for a safe and healthy winter break,

Andrew Shiotani
Director, Tufts International Center