So far all Connecticut colleges that have confirmed to NBC Connecticut that they have students abroad in Paris say their students are safe amid terror attacks that killed 129, including an American, and injured 352 others.
There are 12 undergraduate students and a teacher in Paris for a study abroad program, as well as a UConn graduate student, UConn officials said. There are also four UConn students on vacation in Paris. All 17 students and the faculty member are unharmed.
"Our staff in the Office of Global Affairs were able to contact the 17 UConn students and one UConn faculty member who are in Paris right now," UConn President Susan Herbst wrote in an email to the UConn community on Saturday morning. "I am relieved to report that all of them are safe and accounted for."
UConn students gathered for a vigil at 4:30 p.m. in light of the terror attacks in Paris. Students from a French club on campus painted a spirit rock at the university the colors of the French flag.
Trinity College has 30 students overseas in Paris right now and none of them were hurt, according to spokesperson Kathy Andrews.
Connecticut College reported that all the students they have abroad right now "are safe" and that they "have reached out to all of them - as well as to their parents - to offer" support and "help connect them with any resources they may need as they deal with this tragic situation."
Wesleyan University President Michael S. Roth tweeted Friday, "Heartsick for Paris...relieved that @wesleyan_u students on program there reported safe. What horror!"
He said in his blog that when school officials learned of the tragedy, they immediately got to work reaching out to make sure students in the university's Paris study abroad program were okay.
"The attacks in Paris were meant to create terror in everyday life, and we have seen similar attempts in various parts of the world over the last several years," Roth said in his blog. "Mixed with our revulsion at this brutality is a determination to struggle against the tyranny of violence. Educational institutions depend on eliminating violence, and I trust that the Wesleyan community will stand in solidarity with people around the world in this effort. There is much work to be done — on campus and around the world."
Then today he tweeted, "Hearing from shaken @wesleyan_u students and friends in #Paris, facing a scary future. #LiberteEgaliteFraternite Our Hearts Go OUt to Paris."
"May the time not be distant when we can give peace and justice the attention so often now taken up by violence," Roth wrote in his blog.
UConn officials are "reaching out to students from France and surrounding nations who are currently at UConn" to provide them with any help they need on campus, Herbst said. UConn currently has 13 French citizens enrolled there.
Herbst said that UConn's campuses, "like the entire world, are shocked and horrified by the terrorist attacks that took place in Paris last night, which claimed the lives of more than 120 people, thus far."
"Our hearts ache for the victims, for the people of France, and for all those who lost someone they love to this unspeakable and senseless brutality," Herbst said. "President Obama noted last night that these were not only attacks on the people of Paris, but on all humanity. UConn is an international institution. We are home to students, faculty and staff from across the world – and members of our community and our alumni are spread throughout the globe as well, including in France.... Wherever we are, and wherever we are from, we all share the same sense of profound loss. Because, as a community, we abhor violence in any form, against anyone, whether here at home or anywhere in the world."
Yale is also standing in solidarity with Paris.
"We are all shocked and deeply saddened by news from Paris. We are a global university, and many in our community have close ties to France. We have a number of students with family in the area, faculty with close colleagues and friends there, and a small number of students, faculty and staff traveling there. We are reaching out to contact those who may be affected and hope that all are safe," Yale President Peter Salovey wrote in a message to the Yale community posted on the college's website. "Our hearts go out to all affected by this horrible event.... I also hope you will reach out to friends and colleagues on campus who may have personal connections to offer expressions of comfort and care."
Salovey also advised anyone concerned about someone from Yale in Paris to contact Don Filer at donald.filer@yale.edu and said that anyone needing "support and assistance" in the Yale community should contact Mental Health and Counseling 24 hours a day at 203-432-0290 during work hours and then 203-432-0123 after hours.
Quinnipiac University held a moment of silence at its hockey game Saturday night "to honor the victims of the Paris attacks," the university tweeted.
It's unknown if any other Connecticut colleges have students in Paris right now.
