Dear Clemson:
By now you have heard that the authorities have made an arrest in connection with the death of Tiffany Marie Souers. I know that this development brings relief to many of us who were shaken by the murder. I hope it also brings some measure of peace to Tiffany's family.
I want to express my sincere gratitude to the law enforcement agencies who worked swiftly and tirelessly to conduct a thorough investigation that has now led to an arrest. The effort involved the 13th Circuit Solicitor's Office, as well as officers and investigators from the Central Police Department, the State Law Enforcement Division, the FBI, the Clemson City Police and the Clemson University Police, with cooperation from Pickens, Anderson and Greenville Counties, and from North Carolina, Tennessee and Florida. All are to be commended for their diligence. We are fortunate to have these men and women protecting our campus and our communities. I also want to thank all the hundreds of people who called police to provide information. As Solicitor Bob Ariail said, every call was helpful. I plan to write the head of each agency and express my appreciation directly.
We are talking with the Souers family and Tiffany's friends about an appropriate time to hold a memorial service for Tiffany here on campus. It will be a time to remember a bright young woman who had so much promise and was taken from us much too soon. It is one way we can honor her memory. Another way is to continue to be vigilant about crime prevention and personal safety. This horrible crime has heightened our awareness about what we can all do to avoid becoming a victim. We must continue to watch out for ourselves and for each other.
Sincerely,
James F. Barker, FAIA
President