Concordia pitches in during crisis

Wounded JMSB student still in serious condition

Leslie Markofsky, a prize-winning business student at Concordia, was one of the most gravely injured victims of the Dawson College shooting.

He was visiting Dawson at the lunch hour on Sept. 13, when the shooting occurred. He remains in stable condition at the Montreal General Hospital.

Leslie’s sister Lauren is also a student here. Many members of the university have expressed their concern to the family. (See news.concordia.ca)

Immediately after the shooting, the Concordia Student Union executive and Concordia staff sprang into action. Shuttle buses picked up students from the congested area outside Dawson’s main entrance.

Clothing and blankets were provided, as were bus tickets and taxi coupons for students and staff to get home, and bus transportation to the closest functioning metro station.

Several hundred Dawson students and staff were welcomed, with food donated by Concordia staff and services. They also benefitted from the university’s counselling and health services into that weekend.

At the first meeting of University Senate on Sept. 15, Concordia President Claude Lajeunesse remarked on the “absolutely extraordinary behaviour of our student leaders and staff” in their quick and comprehensive response to the shooting at Dawson College.

He said it was greatly appreciated outside the university, and would be remembered in the history of the institution.