Dear Cougs,

A new year and a new semester bring an opportunity for growth, peace, and most of all, healing. The last few months have been trying, and the announcement of the arrest of Bryan Christopher Kohberger, a former WSU PhD student, as a suspect in the deaths of four University of Idaho students has shocked our communities.

First and foremost, I want to reiterate my heartfelt sympathies to the families and friends of Ethan, Kaylee, Madison, and Xana. The tremendous loss of these young lives has left all of us deeply saddened. I encourage all of our faculty, staff, and students to take advantage of the support resources available to you, listed at the end of this email. If you have concerns about a student’s well‑being, please share the information with the Student Care Network.

I am hopeful that the coming days and weeks will provide all of us with additional answers and information about the nature of this incident. Over the next few weeks, I anticipate that many members of our Cougar family, particularly those familiar with Mr. Kohberger, may be contacted by law enforcement, the media, and concerned citizens.

I strongly encourage everyone to cooperate with the investigative process as much as they are able. If you have information that you believe would be relevant to the investigation, the Moscow Police Department asks that you submit it to their tipline at 208‑883‑7180 or tipline@ci.moscow.id.us. As a reminder, official student records may be protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). If you are unsure if the information you have is protected by FERPA, you are welcome to contact the WSU Division of the Office of the Attorney General.

If you are being contacted by a member of the media, you always have a choice to speak with them or not. If you are receiving unwanted contact from the press, you may direct their inquiries to Phil Weiler, vice president for marketing and communications, at phil.weiler@wsu.edu.

If you are currently receiving unwanted email contact from outside agencies, there are several steps you can take to protect your privacy (please see below).

• Please report any unwanted and/or harassing emails to abuse@wsu.edu.
• You can change your email settings to “only contacts.” This will filter your email and only known contacts or those with a @wsu.edu email address will appear in your inbox. All other emails will be forwarded to junk mail, so you will still have access to them, but they will not appear in your daily feed.
• You can request to have your email address changed via Crimson Service Desk.
  • Submit a request at jira.esg.wsu.edu/plugins/servlet/desk/site/csd.
  • Select Other Request.
  • In Summary enter “New email address due to safety concerns.”
  • Scroll down to description and enter “I am experiencing harassment via email and need a new WSU email address” and/or any additional information related to your request.
• Students — You can restrict your directory information. This will remove your contact information from the WSU Web Directory and when a third‑party contacts WSU for information, they will be told, “We have no information on that individual.” For more information or to complete this process please go to Restricting Directory Information.
  • If the email contact you are receiving has moved from inconsiderate to harassing, please contact the Office of the Dean of Students so that they may assist you with additional options and support.

Though Mr. Kohberger is not enrolled as a student at WSU Pullman, we recognize some of you may still have questions about safety on campus. If so, you are welcome to contact the WSU Police non‑emergency line at 509‑335‑8548. If you ever feel immediately unsafe on campus or in the greater community, please call 911. Your safety remains our utmost priority, and I encourage you to utilize the following services:

• Cougar Safe Rides provides safe transportation to and from campus for students, staff, friends, and family. Call or text WSU‑267‑SAFE (978‑267‑7233) to arrange a free ride.
• The WSU Police Cadet Corps offers a free on‑foot escort service for students and employees to and from campus most evenings. Call 509‑432‑3818 for details.
• Bus routes are available for evening transportation. The Pullman Transit Wheat and Lentil routes run daily until 10 p.m.
  • For your personal safety and convenience, after dark you can ask your driver to let you off at any point along your bus route. It does not have to be a regular bus stop. For safety reasons, drivers are still required to make pick ups at designated bus stops only.
  • For the most up‑to‑date transit information, consider downloading the PTBusBeacon app, available for both Android and iOS.
• If you are on campus and need immediate help, look for one of the many emergency blue light telephones located around the area. Push the button and you will be directly connected to the Whitcom 911 Communications Center.

Student Support Resources:

• Cougar Health Crisis Support Services has information about mental health and medical resources, including after‑hour hotlines.
• Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS) offers mental health services such as individualized counseling.
  • To get set up with a counselor, call the CAPS main line to arrange your intake appointment.
  • If you are currently experiencing a crisis, same or next day appointments are available by calling 509‑335‑4511 during regular business hours, and letting them know you need a crisis appointment.
  • If you are already working with a provider through CAPS, please call the CAPS number above and ask to speak with your provider.
  • Mobile mental health services are available 24/7.
• The Office of Civil Rights and Compliance (CCR) reviews and investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. CCR is an excellent resource for learning about your options, even if you do not wish to formally report anything or move forward with an investigation process.
• ASWSU Pullman Student Legal Services (SLS) provides services for legal needs for current students with the SLS attorney at no cost. This service will resume January 9, 2023.
• The Office of the Dean of Students helps connect students with appropriate support and resources. Call 509‑335‑5757 or email deanofstudents@wsu.edu to make an appointment.

Faculty and Staff Support Resources:

• Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize the Washington State Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for confidential counseling and referral services. Additionally, individuals eligible for employee benefits offered through the university have counseling services available as part of their benefit package. Contact your benefit plan for additional information.
• The Office of Civil Rights and Compliance (CCR) reviews and investigates complaints of discrimination, harassment, and sexual misconduct. CCR is an excellent resource for learning about your options, even if you do not wish to formally report anything or move forward with an investigation process.
• The Office of the University Ombuds works to protect the interests, rights, and privileges of students, staff, and faculty at all levels of university operations and programs. The Ombuds office is designated by the university to function as an impartial and neutral resource to assist all members of the university community. The Ombuds office provides information relating to university policies and procedures and facilitates the resolution of problems and grievances through informal investigation and mediation. The office does not replace or supersede other university grievances, complaint or appeal procedures.

Finally, I want to remind you all to support each other, be kind, and take time for yourself. We are all a Coug family, and it is more important than ever that we work to lift each other up. I am looking forward to seeing you on campus this semester.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth

Elizabeth S. Chilton
WSU Pullman Chancellor
Provost and Executive Vice President