An update on the Christmas Day explosion in Nashville

Dec. 29 telecommunications update: The main phone lines for VUPD Dispatch, the Student Health Center and the University Counseling Center have been restored and are now fully operational.

Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and Vice Chancellor for Administration Eric Kopstain shared the following message with the university community on Dec. 28:

Dear Vanderbilt Community,

As you’ve likely seen on the news, a suspect, Anthony Quinn Warner, has been identified in connection with the Christmas Day explosion in Nashville, in which he perished. Several people were injured in the explosion, which damaged dozens of buildings downtown, including an AT&T telecommunications facility. We have no reports of anyone from the Vanderbilt community being directly affected by the blast, and the Vanderbilt University and Vanderbilt University Medical Center campus was not physically impacted by the incident.

The university and VUMC did experience issues with inbound and outbound calls, which we worked together quickly to resolve. We have received several daily updates from AT&T on progress being made to restore all telecommunications services and expect full restoration of service soon. See the top of this page for the latest information on alternate contact information for critical campus services.

We share in the community pride for Nashville’s first responders whose heroic efforts saved lives, and we are in contact with colleagues at the Nashville Chamber of Commerce about ways that our institution can be of assistance.

Sincerely,

Daniel Diermeier
Chancellor

Eric Kopstain
Vice Chancellor for Administration