Though attention has largely focused on the Charlottesville Police Department, the University has been working to maintain a sense of normalcy on Grounds in the wake of the disappearance of second-year College student Hannah Graham. The search for Graham, who was last seen in the early morning of Sept. 13, has reverberated strongly throughout the University community.
Dean of Students Allen Groves said the University has remained in close contact with the Charlottesville Police Department throughout the investigation.
“University Police speak with their counterparts in the Charlottesville Police multiple times each day,” Groves said in an email. “To the extent permitted by the investigation, UPD then provides updates to several senior University administrators who are managing the University’s support of Hannah’s family, friends, and the broader University community. Some case developments are shared with the University shortly prior to being made public, but not all.”
Groves said a large number of administrators are directly involved in tracking developments and subsequently addressing student needs as the emotional case unfolds.
“A key person in this work is Associate Dean of Students Julie Caruccio, who was the dean on call in my office when Hannah was first reported missing,” Groves said. “Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Pat Hogan is leading a team of professionals, including Director of Emergency Preparedness Marge Sidebottom, Chief of Police Michael Gibson, and others in providing any assistance that may be helpful in the search for Hannah. Provost John Simon and his staff have worked with faculty in their support of our students.”
University President Teresa Sullivan is also directly involved, Groves said.
“Updates are provided to, and input received from, President Sullivan each day,” Groves said. “This is a priority at the highest level.”
On Tuesday, University President Teresa Sullivan announced specific measures to increase security for students in a University-wide email. These measures include an increased police patrol presence, an additional SafeRide van added to the service and a new application called “TipSoft,” which allows students to submit anonymous tips about crime.
“These steps are a beginning, and we will continue to gather information and examine how we can make our University community as safe as possible,” Sullivan said.
Groves said the administration is listening closely to students, intent on understanding their needs at this time.
“Throughout the past week, the primary focus has been on finding Hannah and supporting our students,” Groves said in an email. “We have been receiving emails from some students and parents with suggestions for possible safety enhancements, involving topics ranging from communications to technology.”
University Counseling and Psychological Services extended its hours last weekend to accommodate an increased number of students who have sought their services in the days since Graham went missing.
CAPS Director Tim Davis said Graham’s disappearance has created significant anxiety on Grounds.
“We’re 100 percent focused on helping U.Va students who are struggling in any way emotionally,” Davis said. “We believe that the disappearance of Hannah is creating a degree of turmoil on Grounds.”
Davis said both Patricia Lampkin, vice president of student affairs, and the Division of Student Affairs pushed for extended hours to support students in need. The emergency line typically accessible through CAPS is also still running.
“We didn’t want students to feel like they were having a crisis in order to have support,” Davis said. “We just wanted to be here for students regardless of the severity of their reaction over the situation with Hannah.”
Davis said students are not the only ones looking to make sense of Hannah’s disappearance and the ongoing investigation.
“We haven’t had any framework for understanding with what’s happened,” Davis said. “And I think that’s harder for everyone — administration, students, faculty — we’re all struggling in this together.”
CAPS will also extend its hours this upcoming weekend, staying open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days.
Groves said CAPS resources are sufficient to address student needs at present.
“Thus far, CAPS has not experienced volume that has exceeded its resources,” Groves said. “CAPS offered extended hours last weekend (and will do so again this weekend), but very few students accessed those expanded services. If student need does reach a point where it exceeds the currently available staffing, we will seek to expand our counseling resources on either a temporary or permanent basis.”
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