<p>In light of the continuing law enforcement activity in nearby communities, as well as the ongoing travel ban in and around Boston and Cambridge, Harvard College’s weekend visiting program for recently admitted students, Visitas, has regrettably been canceled. Students who have not yet begun to travel to campus should cancel their plans. Students already in transit should, if practicable, return home. We will work directly with individual students who have arrived in the Boston area, or who will soon be arriving, to determine their best course of action. </p>
<p>Students who have arrived at Logan Airport should proceed to the lower level of Terminal E, where Logan Airport officials have arranged an area for those attending Visitas to gather. Ask an airport official if you have difficulty finding the terminal. </p>
<p>We will follow up soon with more details for students who have already arrived or will soon arrive in the Boston area. Unfortunately, we will not reschedule. We will follow up with a list of regularly scheduled information sessions and tours. We are disappointed not to be able to welcome you this weekend and we are glad to answer your questions in the coming weeks.</p>
<p>It makes it difficult for kids that are on the fence between Harvard and another school or schools. But, at least our kids are safe, and we will find away to figure things out. It has definitly been a crazy week. I hope they catch this guy alive (to get some answers) and without anyone else being hurt!</p>
<p>We are writing to share more information about the unfolding situation in Cambridge and the surrounding area. Police have announced that they will carry out a number of controlled explosions on Norfolk Street in Cambridge this afternoon. No specific time has been released for when this action will be carried out. We will share more information as we receive it, but want to make sure students anticipate these explosions.</p>
<p>In light of the ongoing law enforcement activity, Harvard College has cancelled Visitas programming this weekend and organizers are working with impacted students and their families.</p>
<p>As before, based on information from the Cambridge Police and other law enforcement agencies, HUPD has not identified a threat to Harvard’s campus. We still encourage you stay calm and stay tuned to the emergency notification system for new information ([Emergency</a> | Harvard University](<a href=“http://www.harvard.edu/emergency]Emergency”>Emergency - Harvard University)). And following the advice of the Governor and police, we continue to advise you to stay inside as much as possible.</p>
<p>Again, this has been a difficult time for all of us on campus. Please remain calm and seek help if needed, in your Houses and Dorms or at Harvard Mental Health Services. Faculty and staff are here to support you. Finally, I hope you will support each other during this difficult time.</p>
<p>As you all probably know, it’s over. The governor allowed people to go out at about 6 o’clock, and we decided to take a walk a while later. At around 7, we heard gunshots to the south of us in Watertown (the helicopters were above the whole time), so we raced back to the house. After about 2 hours, the cops started to retreat, and we found out that the suspect had been taken alive. Residents of Watertown have poured out of their houses and there is a spontaneous parade taking place on Mount Auburn Street (and possibly Arsenal Street) as the people applaud the police and SWAT teams. </p>
<p>I am wondering if they can change their minds about Visitas. What a shame. It’s going to be a mostly nice weekend and the trees are starting to bloom. Today has been a nightmare, but it seems to be over.</p>
<p>They are bringing the suspect to Mt. Auburn Hospital, where they will take you (or your children) if you get drunk at The Game and break your ankle rushing the field after Harvard beats Yale (this is based on a true story). Anyway, don’t be afraid of Boston or Harvard. Nothing like this has ever happened before, and it is no more likely to happen here again as it might anywhere else.</p>
<p>Well now that it is over and safe and seeing that we bought a nonrefundable plane ticket for Visitas… my kid is going to visit anyway. Thankfully a current student is willing to house my prefrosh! What a great bonding moment it would be for the class of 2017 to have Visitas restored. :)</p>
<p>DreamingofOxford (hmmm, name choice…), my kid is there–arrived about 3 p.m. Harvard rep met kids at the airport and Harvard has housed them in hotel rooms tonight. I am impressed with how the University handled everything. </p>
<p>He is having a great time. Earlier this afternoon, our plan was to have him return tomorrow morning, but with the crisis over, we are now planning to have him stay at least through Sunday. We have switched his return three times now (Delta has been very accommodating), and his host seems excited to have him stay, so he will be there for an unofficial Visitas–or maybe it’s Visitas 1.0, Yab123. I bet there will be a lot of kids in this situation. And, it’s certainly an experience the Class of 2017 will always remember.</p>
It’s disappointing but understandable.</p>