An open Caring Community forum will take place Sept. 10, 12:15-1 p.m., in Kaufmann Auditorium of Goldwin Smith Hall.

Vice President for Student and Academic Services Susan Murphy will bring the audience up to date on the improved temporary barriers on bridges and the upcoming study to explore permanent suicide deterrents on the bridges. She will also talk about the ways in which the university is building a more supportive community among students, faculty and staff, and the support systems that are available to everyone on campus.

Cornell has hired architect Nader Tehrani of the firm Office da to design permanent barriers on gorge bridges. The temporary fences now on the bridges will remain while Cornell and the city of Ithaca work together to find an acceptable permanent design. The city owns two of the bridges; Cornell owns five. The city has required Cornell to propose designs for permanent barriers by May 2011 or remove the temporary fences.

Two public forums on the barriers are in the works (times and locations to be announced), at which Tehrani will explain the development process.