At the beginning:

Like most of you, my place of business was dramatically altered over the past 3 days. At Vanguard University, we closed our production of West Side Story before the last weekend of performances and students now have a 2 week spring break while faculty prepares for remote instruction.

One student asked a question during my last in-person class, “Professor, have you seen this happen here before?” My answer, “I have never seen this happen in my life.” This opened my eyes, and theirs, about the gravity of this situation.

On Friday morning I gave a pre-strike safety talk and began with, “This situation gives new meaning to the phrase: the show must go on – only if it is safe to do so.”

May you and your families stay safe.

Professor David C. Pecoraro