A joint statement from Virginia Tech Board of Visitors Rector Letitia “Tish” Long '82 and President Tim Sands

The following are remarks made by Letitia “Tish” Long '82, rector of the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors, and Tim Sands, president of Virginia Tech, prior to the Nov. 14 meeting of the university's Board of Visitors.

Long: Before we begin our meeting today, I want to acknowledge and share our sympathy for the UVA community for the unimaginable pain and loss they are experiencing today. Our hearts and our support go out to our friends and colleagues at our sister institution.

Tim, I know you want to share your thoughts as well.

Sands: Thank you. The tragedy last night at UVA is first and foremost on everyone’s minds here. We have a meeting to conduct, but it's hard to do that without having this in the foreground. We were heartbroken to learn of the loss of life and injuries.  Our thoughts are with the families of the victims, the wounded, and the members of the UVA and Charlottesville community that are undergoing a traumatic experience right now.

I’d like to assure the board that everyone I spoke to this morning in our administration had reached out to, and in some cases already engaged their counterpart at UVA, myself included.

As we all know too well, the end of the incident is the beginning of a long period of caring, healing, and learning. I know we will be with our colleagues at UVA throughout that process. I’m certain your colleagues on the UVA Board of Visitors appreciate the support and guidance you have already or will soon offer. Thank you.

Long: If everyone can please join me in a moment of silence.