5Spring 2007  •  Volume 14, Number 2

EDITOR’S NOTE

This issue of The Journal of College Orientation and Transition goes to press just 
as the unspeakably tragic events at Virginia Tech University have occurred. First
and foremost, we extend our condolences to all who have been affected, directly or 
indirectly, by this tragedy. Ours is a caring and collegial profession, and the hearts of
many orientation/transition professionals and student staff members go out to our 
colleagues at Virginia Tech as they mourn the loss of 33 members of their academic
community.  

While campus leaders across North America are reevaluating emergency 
preparedness and considering the long-term consequences of this tragedy, those of us on
the “front lines” are preparing for orientation season with a heightened sensitivity to the
concerns of new students and their families. We will need to be ready to respond to 
questions about campus security, about psychological resources for emotionally 
disturbed students, and about training for residence life staff, among other concerns.  

The final article in this edition of the Journal addresses how one university’s 
orientation program responded in the wake of a campus crisis. Ward-Roof and Smith
describe a calm, thoughtful approach to managing Orientation immediately following 
the disturbing death of a Clemson University student one year ago. Lessons learned 
from this event may assist all of us in dealing with the aftermath of the Virginia 
Tech crisis.

Denise L. Rode
Editor