Dear Colleagues:

I want to convey to you my thanks to our police and public safety officials for their work keeping UMB safe and informed throughout a difficult weekend, and to assure you that on Monday we will operate as we normally do.

On Saturday, thousands of members of our community conducted a peaceful march through our campus and on to a gathering at City Hall. It was a wonderful example of what our nation was founded on, the right to assemble and to urge the government to address the concerns of the people.

But later that evening, after that peaceful gathering had ended, a small fraction of that group turned their anger into ugly action. By 7:30 p.m., conditions nearby in downtown Baltimore prompted UMB Police to issue a “Shelter in Place” order — possibly for the first time in our history. Fortunately, despite damage to some nearby businesses, no one at UMB was injured, and no property damage was reported Saturday night.

Throughout the coming week, we can expect that emotions will run high across Baltimore. University officials will do their utmost to alert you to any potential safety issues, so please be aware of safety messages. We also ask you to remain vigilant and mindful of your surroundings.

Tomorrow, I will share with you more of my thoughts, and more information about the coming days and weeks.

I look forward to seeing everyone on campus tomorrow.

Sincerely,

Jay A. Perman, MD
President