A message from the chancellor: Remembering Dr. Zijie Yan
In a campus email, Lee H. Roberts shared mental health resources and detailed Carolina’s plans to honor the memory of Dr. Yan as the one-year anniversary of the campus shooting approaches.
Dear Carolina Community,
This Wednesday, Aug. 28, marks one year since the tragic loss of Dr. Zijie Yan, who was killed in a shooting on our campus.
Dr. Yan was an associate professor in the Department of Applied Physical Sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences and had been a member of our faculty since 2019. He was a respected colleague, mentor and friend to many on our campus.
On Wednesday, the Bell Tower will chime with Hark the Sound at 1:15 p.m. in honor of Dr. Yan’s memory. Recognizing Dr. Yan’s legacy is an important way that we can come together as a community to acknowledge the loss we feel and to support one another.
We know that the anniversary of this event may be difficult for many, so I’d like to remind you of the resources that we have available.
For students, counseling sessions are available through Counseling and Psychological Services. For students who may need mental health services outside of business hours, please call the 24/7 Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) line: 919-966-3658.
For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) support is available online at guidanceresources.com. Log on with a username and password or register with Web ID: TARHEELS. You may also call 877-314-5841 to make an appointment with a counselor. Support is free and confidential.
While I was not yet at Carolina when this event occurred, I have spoken with many about the direct impact this experience had on students, faculty, staff, parents and our local community. I’ve been grateful to learn about the ways our community came together during such a difficult and scary time.
Safety on campus is always the top priority, and we have learned a lot in the last year about improving our safety procedures. I appreciate the quick and focused action of Emergency Management and Planning and UNC Police to better our practices, and we will continue to find ways to make our security measures even more effective.
Moving forward after this kind of tragedy is not linear. Grief and sadness may surprise us, but I know this campus is full of support and kindness. This is our home, and — especially in tough times — we must continue to strengthen our Tar Heel family together.
Sincerely,
Lee H. Roberts
Chancellor
