We are all horrified and heartbroken at the tragedy last week at Sandy Hook Elementary School.   As a grandparent to four very young children, I have a heightened sense of shock and sadness.

I have asked our Public Safety department — all of our campus police chiefs — to reach out to their community law enforcement partners, to determine if we can collaborate on ways to assess and improve school safety, for schools in their areas.

IU President Michael McRobbie took time from the IU Winter Commencement on Saturday to comment, and I cannot say it any better:

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December 15, 2012

Before we begin the commencement ceremony, I want to comment on the tragic events of yesterday.

Commencement is traditionally a joyous time when we celebrate all that our students have achieved in their studies at Indiana University as they commence the rest of their lives.

But the innocent children, wantonly and savagely massacred yesterday in an act of pure evil, will never know their own commencements.

And the parents and teachers slaughtered with them will never celebrate the commencements of their own and other children.