Dear Drew Community:

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of Ajay Sah C’22, which I learned about earlier today from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office. You can find their statement here.

We know that this news is difficult to process. Ajay was a very talented student, known by all on campus for his broad smile, eagerness to assist anyone and dedication to his friends. His absence this semester has been felt by us all, and I know that we all prayed for a different outcome. I ask that you continue to keep his family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Beyond Drew, Ajay was known by many families in the Borough of Madison, and they join our campus community in grieving. To honor his passing, Madison Mayor Robert Conley has ordered flags to fly at half-mast.

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services is meeting with many members of the community and are offering daily community support drop-in sessions to process and support one another. Please keep an eye out in Drew Today and email for locations and drop in time. For other resources and support, please email counseling@drew.edu. Faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize the university’s EAP resources for counseling support.

President Schwarz and Provost Lakin join me in expressing our deep sympathies to everyone who loved Ajay. We will provide you with information when it becomes available about a time of remembrance for Ajay.

Sincerely,

Frank Merckx

Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Life

Members of the Drew community,

I write to you today to again thank you all for continuing to work, in so many ways, to bring Ajay Sah home—from connecting with the media; translating, sharing, and posting fliers; and continuing to converse with law enforcement and private investigators who have been retained to assist in the search. I am grateful for all these efforts and for our caring community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni.

I want to also take this opportunity to let you know about a development. The Madison Police Department informed us late this afternoon that additional surveillance video has been discovered; the video places Ajay near the Brooklyn Bridge around 5 a.m. on Wednesday, January 20, 2021. This information was shared with his family first, so you may have already learned about this development on social media that is maintained by Ajay’s family and friends. Their independent pages can be found on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; while Drew is not monitoring these sites, you may find their collected information and resources helpful. Per standard practice, these details have also been added to public databases for missing persons.

If you know anything that could assist in the investigation, please contact Detective Ryan Dunn of the Madison Police Department at 973-593-3000 or dunnr@rosenet.org. Please do not call to request updates; they are not able to share information regarding an ongoing investigation, and responding to such calls takes valuable resources from the investigative work.

The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services is offering community support drop-in sessions to process and support one another. There will be sessions on Thursday and Friday from 2 to 3 p.m. Look in Drew Today for Zoom links. Thank you for continuing to assist and support each other at this difficult time for our community.

Sincerely,
Frank Merckx
Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Life

Dear members of the Drew community,

Due to the ongoing winter weather expected through tomorrow, the Drew University campus will remain closed to non-residential students and non-essential employees on Friday, February 19.

Students should expect their classes to meet virtually; if this is not normally how you attend your classes, more information will be shared directly by your professors.

Non-essential employees will continue conducting business operations virtually.

Dining facilities will be open on their normal schedule. Should these be adjusted, an announcement will be sent directly to residents from the Office of Residence Life.

Resident students are advised to stay indoors during the storm. Should an emergency arise, please contact Campus Security at 973-408-3379.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please be safe!

Dear members of the Drew community,

Due to the winter storm forecasted tomorrow, the Drew University campus will be closed to non-residential students and non-essential employees on Thursday, February 18.

Students should expect their classes to meet virtually; if this is not normally how you attend your classes, more information will be shared directly by your professors.

Non-essential employees will continue conducting business operations virtually.

Dining facilities will be open on their normal schedule. Should these be adjusted, an announcement will be sent directly to residents from the Office of Residence Life.

Resident students are advised to stay indoors during the storm. Should an emergency arise, please contact Campus Security at 973-408-3379.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please be safe!

Members of the Drew community,

I write to you today to again thank you for your continued work to find Ajay Sah. Our caring Drew community—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—remains actively engaged with law enforcement in our effort to bring Ajay home. University staff and administration continue to be in routine contact with the Madison Police Department and the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and we are thankful for their sustained efforts.

If you know anything that could assist in the investigation, please contact Detective Ryan Dunn of the Madison Police Department at 973-593-3000 or dunnr@rosenet.org. Please do not call to  request updates; they are not able to share information regarding an ongoing investigation, and responding to such calls takes valuable resources from the investigative work.

Ajay was last known to be on our campus three weeks ago. The longer Ajay remains away from us, the more questions and grief we may have. While there are nearly 30 news media stories covering Ajay’s disappearance, it is important that we continue spreading the word on social media. Hopefully these efforts will yield valuable information to aid in the search. For this reason, Ajay’s family and friends have created independent pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. While Drew is not monitoring these sites, you may find their collected information and resources helpful.

I will keep you informed as there is information to be shared.

Sincerely,
Frank Merckx
Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Life

Dear members of the Drew community,

Due to the ongoing winter storm, the Drew University campus will remain closed to non-residential students and non-essential employees on Tuesday, February 2.

Students should expect their classes to meet virtually; if this is not normally how you attend your classes, more information will be shared directly by your professors.

Non-essential employees will continue conducting business operations virtually.

Dining facilities will be open on their normal schedule. Should these be adjusted, an announcement will be sent directly to residents from the Office of Residence Life.

Resident students are advised to stay indoors during the storm. Should an emergency arise, please contact Campus Security at 973-408-3379.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please be safe!

Dear members of the Drew community,

Due to the winter storm forecasted to begin Sunday evening, the Drew University campus will be closed to non-residential students and non-essential employees on Monday, February 1.

Students should expect their classes to meet virtually; if this is not normally how you attend your classes, more information will be shared directly by your professors.

Non-essential employees will continue conducting business operations virtually.

Dining facilities will be open on their normal schedule.

Resident students are advised to stay indoors during the storm. Should an emergency arise, please contact Campus Security at 973-408-3379.

Thank you for your cooperation. Please be safe!

Members of the Drew community,

I write to you today to again thank you for your continued work to find Ajay Sah. Our caring Drew community—students, faculty, staff, and alumni—remains actively engaged with law enforcement in our effort to bring Ajay home. Drew is grateful for your steadfast endeavors, from sharing the missing person poster on social media, in local neighborhoods, and within the city, to consoling friends who are exhausted from worry.

It is very painful when someone is missing from our lives, and Ajay’s absence is mixed with uncertainty. While family, friends, law enforcement agencies, Drew officials, and the greater Drew community continue their efforts, we recognize that many in our community are hurting. Chaplain Tanya Linn Bennett and Laura Arthur, director of International Students and Scholars Services, are working with other staff and students to create a “Circle of Hope” service next week. This time together is intended to allow our community to express our individual and collective love for Ajay. Once times are finalized, we will announce details to the campus community.

I continue to urge you to contact Detective Ryan Dunn of the Madison Police department at 973-593-3000 or dunnr@rosenet.org if you know anything that could assist in the investigation. In addition to their investigative work, authorities continue to respond to all tips and reports.

I’m again attaching the Madison PD’s missing person flyer about Ajay. Feel free to continue spreading the word. Those in the tristate area, especially New York City, may wish to print and post the flyer in common locations near your homes. Again, we will keep you informed as shareable information becomes known.

Sincerely,
Frank Merckx
Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Life

Members of the Drew community,

Thank you for the outpouring of support around our combined effort to locate Ajay Sah—collectively Drew’s social media posts have been shared more than 1,750 times at the time of this writing, and I know many of your own posts have also been widely shared. This alone is a true testament to our helpful and caring community at Drew.

As we mentioned in our email notice to the community, Ajay’s last contact with friends was the evening of Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Drew administration learned of the situation on the evening of Thursday, January 21, 2021. We have been working in earnest with the authorities in charge of this investigation, as well as with Ajay’s brother and friends, to find him.

One of the most challenging aspects of having a loved one missing is the feeling of the unknown. It is important for you to know that many law enforcement agencies in New Jersey and New York are using their shared resources to bring him home. The greater Drew community, our families and alumni are actively offering assistance, from exercising work connections to sharing a social media post. Both the Embassy of Nepal and the Consulate General of Nepal are working with the State Department and other agencies. We are grateful for all of these efforts and for the continuing support.

Ajay’s photo and information were entered into the FBI National Crime Information Center, a primary method to increase law enforcement officials’ awareness of missing persons. Area hospitals and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement were notified of the search; as of this notice, nothing has been generated from these contacts. Ajay was last sighted exiting a NJ Transit train in New York Penn Station. NYPD, the MTA, New York Port Authority and NJ Transit are working with Madison Police to ascertain where Ajay was headed from Penn Station.

I urge you to contact Detective Ryan Dunn of the Madison Police department at 973-593-3000 or dunnr@rosenet.org—or any member of the Campus Life and Student Affairs staff—if you know anything that could assist in the investigation. Authorities have responded to all tips and reports so far.

This is a difficult time for the Drew community. The Center for Counseling and Psychological Services is offering daily community support drop-in sessions to process and support one another. These links will be shared in Drew Today. For other resources and support, please email counseling@drew.edu. Should they be needed, faculty and staff are encouraged to utilize the university’s EAP resources for counseling support.

Attached is the Madison PD’s missing person flyer about Ajay. Feel free to continue spreading the word. Those in the tristate area, especially New York City, may wish to print and post the flyer in common locations near your homes. Again, we will keep you informed as shareable information becomes known.

Sincerely,
Frank Merckx
Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Life

Members of the Drew community,

On the evening of Thursday, January 21, 2021, members of Campus Life and Student Affairs were informed that Ajay Sah, a junior in the College of Liberal Arts and a resident assistant, had been out of contact since the evening of Tuesday, January 19, 2021. Since then, our staff have been working with the Madison Police Department, as well as Ajay’s brother and friends, to locate Ajay. Efforts have been unsuccessful so far.

All information known to Drew, his friends and brother has been forwarded to local authorities. In accordance with their protocol, Madison PD has contacted local hospitals and is working with regional law enforcement including the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, NJ Transit Police and NYPD, among others. If you have information that could aid in this effort, please reply to this email or reach out to any member of the Campus Life and Student Affairs staff.

If you are experiencing personal anxiety, emotional distress or grief, Drew provides resources to assist, including those of our Center for Counseling and Psychological Services. Please do not hesitate to reach out.

As shareable information becomes available we will pass it along. Ajay is an important and well known member of our community and we are working toward and hopeful for his safe return to Drew.

Sincerely,
Frank Merckx
Vice President of Enrollment Management and Student Life

Dear members of the Drew community,

While most of our employees are already working remotely, due to the forecasted major winter storm with significant snowfall the Drew University campus will be closed to non-essential employees beginning at 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday, December 16. The campus will remain closed on Thursday, December 17 for snow removal. We will continue conducting business operations virtually during these days.

Dear members of the Drew community,

Drew University will have a delayed opening today, Tuesday, December 17. Administrative offices will open at 10:30 a.m.

The EC will open at 10 a.m.

The temperatures are expected to drop below freezing beginning at 7 a.m. If we need to adjust our opening plan, we will do so by 8:30 a.m. Thank you for your patience as we navigate uncertain weather.

Dear members of the Drew community,

Drew University is closed today, Monday, December 2, due to the forecasted ongoing snow and freezing precipitation throughout the day. All classes and activities are cancelled.

Classes that are scheduled to meet online will occur as scheduled.

Arts & Sciences faculty: If your class has been cancelled, you will need to make up the session. One option for doing so is to hold your class via Zoom at the regularly scheduled time. If you are interested in exercising this option, please contact Shawn Spaventa for a Zoom link. Zoom license availability is limited; class block bookings are on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you have received the Zoom link, please directly share it with students in your class.

The Commons will open on a normal schedule. All other eateries are closed.

Stay safe!

Dear Drew community,

Due to an unclear weather pattern on Sunday and Monday, Drew University will open residence halls at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 30th.

The Ehinger Center Food Court will be open Saturday for brunch from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and again for dinner from 5 to 7 p.m. Students who have not signed up for break housing will need to use cash or debit/credit cards to make food purchases.

Please examine the weather patterns for your region, as well as for the Madison area, when making travel plans. Those traveling by commercial means may wish to check with your carriers to see if any change fees can be waived, should you opt for an earlier arrival back to Drew. You should make your own travel decisions based upon what is safest, and best, for you.

We are monitoring the weather and will send additional alerts if a delayed opening is required on Monday. As of now, there is no clear guidance on precipitation type or quantity.

We are excited to have our students back for one more week of classes and a week of exams. Safe travels back to The Forest.

Evening Update, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

Dear campus community,

Thank you for your cooperation as we manage the aftermath of last evening’s storm.

Please use caution, especially after night falls, if you are walking on campus. You are advised to stay on pathways and roads as there is still a risk from leaning trees and hanging branches, and do not walk in the Arboretum, Hepburn Woods and any partitioned areas. To avoid injury, please do not climb on downed trees. Please note there is no power in the Glenwild parking lot, and avoid the Sitterly House parking lot for the time being.

Planned activities will resume as scheduled beginning Saturday morning, Nov. 2. The library and Simon Forum will be open.

Clean-up efforts—including active tree removal—will continue throughout the weekend and into next week, with the removal of any trees on vehicles as a top priority.

As a reminder, if there was damage to your vehicle, please contact Campus Safety at 973-408-3379 so that they may assist in filing a report with the Madison Police Department.

The safety of our campus community is our most important concern. Thank you for observing our warnings and for your continued assistance making way for the clean-up effort.

Follow-Up Message, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

Please note that the Commons, EC and Starbucks are open. You are now able to leave the residence halls, but only for dining services. Please stay out of parking lots and other areas until further notice. The library and Simon Forum remain closed. NOTE: The pathway behind Health Services is closed.

In order to access dining facilities:

Suites, McLendon, Tolley and Brown – must walk through the circle to the center/main path, please do not take the path in front of Brown;

Haselton, Eberhardt, Riker, Baldwin and Townhouses – must walk out into the HERB circle and over, please do not use rear doors leading onto Riker Road;

Welch and Holloway – must use the doors facing the Commons, please do not use the rear doors leading onto Riker Road;

Hoyt and Asbury – please use the main path, but note, there are still trees blocking some pathways. Eating at the EC may be easier for you.

Please avoid all other areas of campus until notified.

If there is damage to your vehicle, please contact Campus Safety at 973-408-3379 so that they may assist in filing a report with the Madison Police Department.

Please be advised that the Borough of Madison is operating under a local state of emergency; therefore, Madison Police Department responses for damage reports will experience some delay. Visit the Borough of Madison Facebook page for a list of road closures.

Thank you for your patience while the Madison and Drew communities work together through this event.

Initial Alert, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019

Dear members of the Drew community,

The storm that impacted Drew in the early morning hours of today also impacted some of the surrounding roads to campus. Many of our faculty, staff and commuting students are also dealing with damage within their own neighborhoods.

In order to provide access for workers to remove downed trees and reduce the impact that student and employee travel will have on Madison and the campus, Drew University classes are canceled and all administrative offices are closed for today, Friday, November 1. Essential employees will be notified by their supervisor to report to the campus.

Classes that are scheduled to meet online will continue to do so.

Those on campus please remain in residence halls until further notice. Those not on campus, please do not come to campus until further notice.

When cleared to move around the campus, we ask that you observe and respect the areas that are blocked due to downed trees and wires by limiting your travel around campus. Please be aware that winds throughout the day may bring down additional limbs or trees. Please refrain from entering the Arboretum and Hepburn Woods.

The Commons, Starbucks, and the EC will be open on a normal schedule. Peet’s will be closed.

If there is damage to your vehicle, please contact Campus Safety at 973-408-3379 so that they may assist in filing a report with the Madison Police Department.

Updates will be found at this site.

Thank you for your cooperation in accord with today’s emergency notification. The safety of our campus community is our top priority.

Earlier this morning, out of an abundance of caution, we put a shelter in place in effect because we received an unverified report that a community member was in possession of a firearm on campus.

Because of the nature of the report, we immediately contacted the Madison Police Department to assist Drew Campus Safety in an investigation. 

An investigation was performed, and it was determined that there was no threat to the Drew or surrounding communities.

As we noted in the final emergency notification, all activities have resumed as normal. 

Jim Mandala, director of counseling, is available to offer services to any community member who may have been impacted emotionally by today’s event. He may be reached at 973-408-3398 and counseling@drew.edu.

An event like today’s is extremely rare on our safe campus. But when the need arises, as it did today, we act accordingly. Fortunately in this case there was no threat.

Thank you again.

All clear. The shelter in place has been lifted. There is no threat. A community message will follow. Resume activities as normal.

Remain sheltered in place. There is no active threat. An ongoing investigation is being conducted. If you’re off campus, please stay off until further notice.

We have activated a shelter in place. Madison PD is on campus conducting an investigation.

Stay in your location until you receive a follow-up message.

Drew University is closed for business from 12 a.m. on Friday, August 9 through the early evening of Monday, August 12, due to a scheduled full campus electric power shutdown, allowing for planned infrastructure upgrades. All buildings on campus are closed for business and to visitors during this period. Accommodations have been made for all classes, camps and events scheduled to occur on August 9 and 12; these will take place in their scheduled building or area, at their normal meeting time.

Drew University will have a delayed opening tomorrow, Monday, March 4. Administrative offices will open at 11 a.m. As always, please use your judgment when traveling to campus. If you anticipate having an issue arriving by opening time, please contact your manager.
For those students on campus, the EC will be serving meals on the established Spring Break schedule.

Drew University will have a delayed opening today, Friday, March 1. Classes will begin at 10:25 a.m. and administrative offices will open at 10:30 a.m.
Classes that are scheduled to meet online will occur as scheduled.
All food services will open on a normal schedule.
Given the timing of the snow, the roads around Madison have not yet been plowed and we are working to make campus safe. Please use caution as you walk around campus paths and buildings.

Drew University will have a delayed opening today, Thursday, February 21. Classes will begin at 10:25 a.m. Administrative offices will open at 10 a.m.
Classes that are scheduled to meet online will occur as scheduled.
The Commons will open on a normal schedule. Peet’s and Starbucks will open at 10 a.m. and the EC will open at 11 a.m.

Drew University will be canceling all classes that begin after 11:45 a.m. today, Wednesday, February 20, 2019. Administrative offices will also close at 11:45 a.m. Classes that are scheduled to meet online will continue to do so.
The Commons will be open on a normal schedule. Peet’s, Starbucks and the EC will close at 11 a.m.

Due to the forecast for snow and ice throughout the day, Drew University will be closed Tuesday, February 12. The Commons will be open for all meals. Classes and all other events for the day have been canceled.

Drew University will have a delayed opening today, Wednesday, January 30. With the exception noted below, classes will begin at 10:25 a.m. and administrative offices will open at 10:30 a.m.
All classes and labs scheduled in the Hall of Sciences are canceled today. The supplementary heating system is not working, and because the temperatures have dropped below freezing, the building is likely to be uncomfortably cold.
Classes that are scheduled to meet online, and classes that meet in all other campus buildings, will occur as scheduled.
The Commons and Starbucks will open on a normal schedule. Peet’s will open at 10 a.m. and the EC will open for lunch at 11 a.m.
If we need to delay further for any reason, we will communicate via email and additional alert notices. Additional information about the Hall of Sciences will be shared via email and the University website once more is known about the timing of the repair.
As always, please use your judgment when traveling to campus. If you anticipate having an issue arriving by opening time, please contact your manager or professor.
Thank you for your understanding. Stay warm!

Drew University will have a delayed opening today, Friday, November 16. Classes will begin at 10:25 a.m. and administrative offices will open at 10:30 a.m. The Commons will be open on a normal schedule.

Due to the storm forecasts intensifying for later today, we will be closing the Drew University campus at 4 p.m. All classes that begin at or after 4 p.m. are canceled. Classes that are meeting online will continue to do so.

Administrative offices, the Drew University Library and the United Methodist Archives will close at 4 p.m. Again, if you have individual circumstances that require an earlier departure, please discuss them with your manager.

The Commons will be open for tonight’s Thanksgiving dinner on a regular schedule.

Thank you for your understanding as we deal with changing weather and please be safe today!

Due to the continued snow and on-campus conditions, Drew will operate on the following schedule on April 2: All classes held before 4:30 p.m. are canceled. Classes held at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. will be held as usual.

The Commons is open and will remain open. The EC opens at 11 a.m. Administrative offices are closed.

We are currently working with the Facilities team to estimate when we might be able to open the Forum and the Library with limited services and will communicate further details as they are available.

Thank you for your patience as we welcome Spring on Drew’s campus with an 6 inches of snow and ice! Be safe!

Please note that Drew University will have a delayed opening today due to the inclement weather moving quickly through our area. Offices will open at 11:30 a.m. and the first class will begin at 11:50 a.m. The Commons will be open for regular hours and the EC will open at 11 a.m.

As always, please use your judgement traveling to and around campus. If you anticipate having an issue arriving by opening time, please contact your manager or professor. If there is any additional reason to delay, we will send an updated message.

Due to ongoing snow cleanup on campus and the roads surrounding campus, Drew University will open at 10:15 a.m. today. Classes will begin at 10:25 a.m.

If you have any questions or concerns about your individual circumstances, please notify your professor or manager.

Due to the impending storm, Drew University will be closed tomorrow, Wednesday, March 21. The Commons will be open for all meals. Classes and all other events for the day have been cancelled.

Please be safe in the snow and we hope you enjoyed the first day of spring. We are back to winter tomorrow! Thank you!

Drew University will be closed on Thursday, March 8 due to ongoing campus cleanup from the significant snowfall and falling branches and trees. We hope that you have all been safe and warm today and continue to take care digging out tomorrow. Thank you for your patience as we make campus safe for your return.

Due to the impending storm, Drew University will be closed on Wednesday, March 7. For those students on campus through Spring Break, the Commons will be serving meals on the established Spring Break schedule.

Thank you very much and stay safe and warm!

Due to impending weather, Drew University will have a delayed opening Wednesday, February 7, 2018. All offices will open at 11:30 a.m. and classes will begin at 11:50 a.m. Dining services will be available during their regular hours.

As always, please use your best judgement when driving to and walking on campus. If you anticipate having a challenge with this arrival time, please contact your professors or supervisors.

If there are any additional updates, we will send a follow-up communication. Thank you and be safe!

Drew University will have a delayed opening today, Wednesday, January 17. Classes will begin at 10:25 a.m. and administrative offices will open at 10:30 a.m. We will use email and the University website should any additional updates or changes occur. The Commons will be open on normal schedule.

Due to the change in forecast and new anticipated snow accumulations through mid-afternoon, Drew University will be closed today. Thank you for your cooperation and be safe.