America Under Attack

Message from the President of Mississippi State University to the faculty, staff, and students.

TO:      Faculty, Staff, and Students

FROM:    Malcolm Portera, President

SUBJECT: Our response to today's attacks

        
    Today's terrorist attacks aimed at the United States have 

understandably generated outrage and grief.  Our immediate 

duty as citizens and as a university is to ensure that we 

are calm, deliberate, and reasoned in our response.  

    It seems likely that a primary objective of the attacks 

is to create chaos, discord, and fear within our society, 

but I am confident that we will not fall into that trap, 

as a nation or as a university.  

    As our national authorities bring the immense resources 

of the United States and the resilience and character of our 

people to bear on the current crisis, we are taking appropriate 

precautions to ensure the safety and security of our campus 

and our students.

    We intend to maintain a normal schedule of all activities 

and I urge every student, faculty member, and staff member to 

help us in maintaining an atmosphere of calm resolve.  I am 

confident that our response, nationally and locally, will be 

quick, effective, and appropriate.  

    Thank you for your cooperation and your courage as we 

confront these deplorable incidents.

--Malcolm Portera
September 11, 2001