Bates families –

Thank you for all you have done over the past few days to support your students through a truly terrible experience, even as you have worried and feared for them from afar. We are so grateful for the extended Bates community and the care everyone has brought to this horrible situation.

Now that the immediate crisis in Lewiston has come to a close, you will no longer receive rapid email updates from us, so we want you to know how to find the information you need to continue to support your students in the days, weeks, and months ahead.

Student support: Students just received this outreach from the Dean of Students, and tomorrow they will also hear directly from their Student Support Advisor (SSA). SSAs can help your student connect with Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS), advise them on  concerns with classes, and so much more, so please urge your students to follow up with their SSAs.

Events and gatherings: Students have received reminders about an on-campus Vigil for Grief and Remembrance on Nov. 1 organized by the Multifaith Chaplaincy. Other gatherings and programs for students will continue to be publicized in BatesToday, which students receive daily via email. Please encourage them to take advantage of the many offerings to be in community with others.

Supporting the community: So many Bates families have asked how to help, and we are extremely grateful. Thank you to those who completed the volunteer form and indicated a willingness to help on campus; due to the generous outpouring, we currently have the support to navigate our immediate needs. Here is a list of ways to support our neighbors in Lewiston and those most deeply affected. We know your students are already working to help our community heal, thanks to the long-standing partnerships between Bates and Lewiston/Auburn and the work of the Harward Center.

As always, please reach out to us at parents@bates.edu. We are ready to offer clarification, answer questions, and connect you with the resources you need to support your students. Thank you for all you have done for your students and for Bates during such a difficult time. 

With gratitude,
The Bates Parent Team