"Together we remain unified in the face of adversity."

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Ohio State is a close-knit campus community with a spirit of perseverance — a place where community members learn together, talk and listen together, heal together.

That spirit will be Ohio State's greatest asset as the university works to restore a campus-wide sense of security following Monday's outburst of violence.

"Days such as these test our spirit as Buckeyes – but together we remain unified in the face of adversity," said Ohio State President Michael V. Drake. Drake visited those injured at Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center.

“We wish those injured a speedy and complete recovery; and our thoughts and prayers are with them and their families,” he said. (See Drake's message.)

As the university continues to heal, all community members are invited to a special #BuckeyeStrong event on Tuesday, Nov. 29, at 7 p.m. at St. John Arena.

“Being a Buckeye means something,” said Micky Sharma, director of Ohio State's Counseling and Consultation Service. “We heal together by supporting one another.” 

Monday's events are under investigation, and the campus community is still processing the events. With classes resuming Tuesday, Ohio State is committed to remaining a place where students, faculty, staff and community members are united in a sense of security.

At Ohio State's Wexner Medical Center, Chief Medical Officer Andy Thomas said staff are consistently preparing for events such as this. The Wexner Medical Center partners with other Columbus-area hospitals to determine how best to triage and treat patients in major incidents; on Monday, patients were treated at Ohio State and at OhioHealth Grant Medical Center and OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital. All are expected to fully recover.

“I can’t tell you how proud I am to work here at the university, and to see our colleagues come together,” Thomas said.

On campus Monday, Counseling and Consultation Services added additional locations for counseling at the Ohio Union and the RPAC — an effort to make sure all students had access to the help they needed, Sharma said.

“Comfort, healing, giving people strategies about how to cope,” Sharma said. "We tell people to really honor their emotional response.”

Resources for the Buckeye community

For students: Counselors continue to be available through Student Life's Counseling and Consultation Service. Visit their website for more information. After hours, call 614-292-5766.

For faculty and staff: The Ohio State University Employee Assistance Program has set up special counseling sessions. Call the EAP at 800-678-6265 24 hours a day, seven days a week, or email them at eap@osumc.edu.

Safety first: President Drake says quick action allowed law enforcement to minimize the danger on campus — saving lives. Visit the public safety website to learn more about campus safety. And review Ohio State emergency procedures, including Run, Hide, Fight.