A Tragedy Narrowly Averted... University of Central Florida

[Jenn in FL]

http://www.myfoxorla...es-seevakumaran

 

 

Oh. My. Word. The details continue to render me tearful, speechless, and barely able to process.

 

My oldest daughter is a (graduating in May) senior at UCF.

 

She lives in a dorm on campus.

 

In one of the Towers. On the top floor.

 

Of Tower 1 ...

 

She is an RA and "door knocks" each and every room whenever the fire alarm goes off to make certain everyone evacuates. Then they all flock to the stairwell and make their way down and out of the building.

 

Please pray for these students and all of the rest of the campus (not to mention their friends and families) as the magnitude of "what almost was" begins to sink in.

 

Thank you,

Jen

 

(Edited to remove pop ups imbedded in the words 'continue' and 'students.)

Edited March 19, 2013 by Jenn in FL

[Dana]

:grouphug:

[mmeblue]

Oh wow. :( I am pretty sure I have some former students who attend/ed there.

 

I'm sure your daughter is incredibly shaken right now. I'll be praying for her and the other students there. Hugs to you.

[Jean in Newcastle]

:grouphug: :grouphug: :grouphug:

[twinmami01]

I just saw that on the news. We are about 45 min away from UCF. This is just incredibly sad that it's becoming the norm anymore. Glad to hear your DD is ok.

[JudoMom]

We aren't created to process this kind of evil. I'm so thankful you're daughter and the other students are safe.

[SebastianCat]

We have friends whose son is a freshman at UCF, so this has been on my heart today as well. Both of my parents went to college there.

 

Praying for everyone involved.

[skeeterbug]

Am I the only one who thinks that it is strange that a 30yo lived in a dorm on campus? Is this more common than I think?

 

Glad everyone is safe.

[FloridaLisa]

Or strange that he was not currently enrolled in classes but allowed to stay in the dorms?

 

Jenn, this certainly hits close to home. So, so, so very glad that Providence intervened to prevent a huge tragedy.

 

Blessings to you all ~

Lisa

[Jenn in FL]

Thank you so much for the hugs and comforting words. This WTM community is so generous with their thoughts and prayers and has been so for YEARS.

 

Re: a 30 year old in the dorms. This particular dorm is a high rise building designed with four individual bedrooms and two baths in each apartment. The kitchen and living areas are communally shared. Apparently, according to my daughter, occasionally they do have 'older' students, although it is not the norm.

 

Re: not being enrolled in classes. He was in the process of being evicted from the dorm for non-payment of rent. If it is anything close to a regular eviction procedure here in Florida, then (legally) it takes time. I would have never considered that it was possible to be in arrears in a dorm situation (and remain on premise.) Sigh.

 

Lisa, thank you for the blessings. It was Katie....... who has now jumped into full mentoring/mothering/RA mode. She left her dorm door open all day today and will again tomorrow and had tons of "her kids" streaming into her room "just to talk it out." The UCF administration has provided extensive counseling staff to be made available indefinitely on a 24/7 basis. Last night they met with the RA staff and beginning today they are hosting individual counseling sessions for each floor as well.

 

One day at a time....

 

Again, thank you all,

 

Jen

[Stayseeliz]

UCF is my alma mater. The students, staff have heavy on my kids today. I never lived in dorms but I can only imagine how terrifying this must be.

[tex-bex]

OMGoodness!!!!! :(

 

So grateful the roommate called 911!

[Lady Florida.]

I'm not sure how I missed this post but have been following the story on the news. We have friends with kids at UCF.

 

:grouphug: for you and your dd :grouphug: