Dear Parents,
This has been a difficult time for the Middlebury College community as we have searched unsuccessfully for information regarding the whereabouts of Nicholas Garza '11.
Nick was last seen the night of Tuesday, February 5, when he left Stewart Hall, presumably to return to his room in Allen. The next day, one of his friends, unable to locate Nick, contacted his Commons Residential Advisor, who contacted the Department of Public Safety. Following a brief search of residence halls, it was suggested by a friend that Nick had likely left campus with friends, as students often do during the February break, and was out of cell phone range. Over the following weekend, Nick’s family called the Department of Public Safety to express their concern that they had been unable to reach Nick, and on Sunday filed a missing persons report with the Middlebury Police Department. On Monday, Nick failed to show up for his spring term classes, and I sent an e-mail to all students, faculty, and staff seeking any information on his whereabouts.
The Middlebury Police Department, the college’s Department of Public Safety, and the Vermont State Police have conducted a thorough search of the campus, using police dogs and other search methods, but so far, the searches have turned up nothing. The college’s office of facilities services has conducted two full detailed searches of campus buildings and rooftops.
At the same time, the Middlebury Police Department and the college are aggressively pursuing any and all leads in their missing persons investigation. They are focusing their attention on anything that will help reconstruct the events of the evening of February 5. Once again, we urge anyone with relevant information to contact the Middlebury Police Department (802-388-3191) or the Department of Public Safety (802-443-5911).
Students and other members of the campus community have put in many hours in the search for Nick Garza, including putting up posters throughout the area and creating a Facebook group dedicated to Nick. Students, faculty, staff and Nick’s family held a vigil of concern and solidarity in Mead Chapel on February 19, giving the campus community an opportunity to come together as a community and express our concern.
During this time of heightened anxiety on campus, I would like to remind you that the college has excellent support systems in place for students who wish to speak with someone about their concerns. Students should not hesitate to approach any of the following: The Commons deans and their residential life teams in the residence halls; Director Gary Margolis and his team at the Center for Counseling and Human Relations; as well as Chaplain Laurie Jordan and Associate Chaplain Ira Schiffer at the Scott Center for Spiritual and Religious Life.
Our thanks go out to those who have taken part in the search, enduring long hours and harsh winter conditions, and to the Middlebury colleagues who have done so much to help support Nick’s family and friends.
Please join us in keeping Nick’s family in our thoughts and prayers as we strive to confirm his whereabouts and safety.
Tim Spears
Dean of the College
Middlebury College