Our profound concern for the welfare of Michelle Gardner-Quinn continues 
to deepen by the hour, and our thoughts and prayers are with her and her 
family and friends. The particular circumstances of her disappearance 
are not yet known, and we are hopeful that we will see her safe return. 
As this very serious situation continues to unfold, I write to express 
both the University's distress about an apparent threat to one of our 
own, and our firm resolve to do all we can to assist the ongoing 
investigation, support the family, and keep our community fully informed.

Law enforcement agencies are doing all that is humanly possible to get 
to the bottom of this situation. Burlington Police are being supported 
by University, local, state, and federal agencies in the investigation, 
and are aggressively pursuing any and all information and leads.

Students, faculty, and staff will continue to receive timely updates on 
the matter, as well as safety advisories and other information. A 
community safety forum will take place in Burlington on the evening of 
Wednesday, October 11, followed by a campus forum on Thursday, October 
12 at 7pm in the Ira Allen Chapel. The Women’s Center has organized a 
candlelight vigil for Michelle tonight at 6 p.m. by the fountain on the 
UVM Green. Smaller gatherings are also taking place throughout the 
residence hall system. Students have mobilized to distribute flyers and 
are planning other efforts as well. Specific information on these and 
other events will be forthcoming in further email communications, 
starting later today.

Although we do not yet know the nature or circumstances of Michelle’s 
disappearance, we are nevertheless intensely focused on personal safety 
and security and are taking all reasonable precautions. Students will 
continue to receive safety tips and advisories; campus police patrols 
will be ongoing; residence hall security procedures, including on-duty 
staff presence, are being strengthened; all campus life safety systems 
have been checked and are fully operational; and awareness efforts are 
being stepped up across the campus and in Burlington.

As I have said, updated information will be communicated as it is 
available. We are keeping Michelle and her family in our minds and 
hearts, and we will make every effort to provide support, assistance, 
cooperation, and energy as this situation unfolds.

I think Deputy Burlington Police Chief Michael Schirling put it well: 
"We're going to remain hopeful until there's a reason not to."

For more information go to: http://www.bpdvt.org <http://www.bpdvt.org/> 
and http://www.uvm.edu