I want to thank the employees in essential service areas of the University who worked hard during the past few days to continue to provide important services to the students, faculty, staff and visitors to Penn State despite the difficult conditions.

Penn State employees always make me proud in almost everything they do, and times such as this bring out their best. With the unpredictable weather conditions, electric power concerns and the sudden announcement from the state of a disaster emergency, many people were called upon to change their plans and routines.

Despite the challenges, students were fed in the dining halls, residence halls and classrooms were heated, health and safety employees were prepared and in place to provide assistance as needed. And beyond those obvious areas of the University that must continue to function, there were scores of other servies and operation that needed to proceed without interruption.

Thanks, again, for your efforts. And thanks also to the community for realizing these were quite unusual circumstances. The employees who serve you will continue to do everything possible to keep Penn State open and functioning normally.