Unease and concern naturally follow in the wake of what has happened in Paris. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and friends. As part of the global community, we most certainly feel the effects. Sadly, such events are not isolated incidents. We must begin a university-wide conversation about the complexities of the global environment and its impact on Rensselaer, which is characterized by our culture of diversity, inclusion and tolerance. To begin that conversation, Dr. Jackson will convene a Town Meeting on Tuesday, November 17 at 9:00 a.m. in the EMPAC concert hall. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend, and engage in a dialogue to not only raise questions and concerns, but also to share ideas on how we, as a community, may respond. If you have been personally impacted by the events in Paris, or feel any anxiety, I encourage you to take advantage of the counseling services offered by Rensselaer. Students may contact the Student Health Center at (518)276-6287. Faculty and staff may take advantage of the services offered through Capital Employee Assistance Program (Capital EAP) at (518)465-3813.