Thinking of our community

April 20, 2016

Dear TWU Community,

Early this morning, we believe lightning struck a TWU Select Apartment complex near our Denton campus and sparked a fast-moving fire that fully displaced 16 of our students. Fortunately, there were no injuries. But those 16 displaced students now face total loss of their personal effects, including irreplaceable family photos and items with special memories as well as loss of clothing, books and other ruined or destroyed belongings. Notably, lives were saved this morning because our students rallied together quickly, knocking on all doors to make sure that everyone knew to immediately evacuate the buildings.

I extend special gratitude to the Denton Fire Department, Denton and TWU police, the Red Cross, our neighbors, the City of Denton, our Student Life staff and so many others who quickly provided immediate support and assistance to our students. 

In true fashion, the TWU community and our Denton neighbors are now rallying to expand support for our students and wondering how they all might help. Because our students’ needs are so varied, we suggest that if you would like to help that you please consider contributing to our student emergency fund. If you wish to do so, please see the methods for doing so below.

Mother Nature’s storms often pose challenges for all of our campuses. Earlier this week, flooding closed our Houston campus and caused numerous hardships for faculty, staff and students. Today, many of our Houston colleagues are overcoming home and transportation challenges to get back to work and study, and I know you join me in applauding their extraordinary efforts to do so.

I am always struck by the incredible TWU heart-and-soul and compassion in difficult times, and I applaud the incredible lengths that so many of you and our neighbors have gone to already to support and help our colleagues. 

This week’s wicked weather and its aftermath remind me of something the beloved TV personality Mr. Rogers once said: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’ To this day, especially in times of disaster, I remember my mother's words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”

With gratitude,
Carine M. Feyten, Ph.D.

#campuswithaheart

How to help our students

You can write a check to “TWU Foundation” (with “Student Life Emergency Fund” in the memo line) and mail it to: Office of University Advancement, PO Box 425618, Denton, TX 76204-5618. If you prefer, you can alternatively go online to our Make a Gift site and, with your credit card, you can choose “Other” for the account designation and type in “Student Life Emergency Fund.”