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Volume 36 Issue 2
The University Of North Carolina At Asheville
September 12, 2002
Remembering Sept 11 one year later
M
&
UNCA sttident travels
to NYC for Sept 11
ED FICKLE / NEWS EDITOR
In New York, people strain to see the remains of the World Trade Center Sept. 11, as they remembered the tragedy that took place one year ago. UNCA students, faculty and
staff also commemorated the tragic day with on-campus events, including a candle-light vigil and a flag ceremony.
Many UNCA voices recount an American tragedy
For as long as our living memories
last, the terrorist attacks on the
United States Sept. II, 2001 will
loom tall as one of the most horrific
and mind-numbing events our gen
eration will ever experience. Each
of us struggle to find the most ap
propriate way to commemorate our
losses, and muddle through the
conflicting ideas and emotions as
This year, at UNCA, we began
our memorial to all victims of that
atrocity with a reverent moment of
silence around a stock-still flag,
halted at half-mast. Well over a
hundred gathered there, in the
growing light, as a representation
of unity and remembrance. A new
dawn, as bright and innocent as one
just a year ago, peeked over the
skyline. To some, it was a symbol
of hope and new beginnings-a re
birth.
As dawn faded into mid-morn
ing, and then, into a candle-lit black
night, students, staff and faculty
joined in a series.of events designed
to embody the spirit of America in
times of trouble and adversity. But,
it seems that it is the dialogue, the
mutual understanding and healing
we as a community experience to
gether, that best expresses the true
backbone of America, and in a way,
best commemorates those who we
seek to honor. world, and more aware of the fact
“I detest war, all its ideas and that there are other people in the
what’s behind it, but at the same world who are suffering so much
time, so to speak, that’s what gives more than we. Institutions like this
me the right to be who I am, to with a liberal arts background aren’t
function like I do, to wear the clothes only focused on technology, we are
[ like. I
that and
people and hu
of people suf
manity
fared for tha
Barnhardt
If it comes
price, then I
rounding the
grate
ful for it,” said
Sharon Lloyd,
undeclared
spent the day
passion-
tely listening
of diverse
While some
tudents, fac
ulty and staff
university’s ef
pletelyap
J.P. AMMONS/ PHOTO EDITOR
The Student Government Associa
tion sponsored the candlelight vigil.
many others
felt the univer
sity could address some important
concepts in different ways.
“It’s part of the process of healing
and moving forward,” said Linda
Cornett, director of international
were rewarded
with perspec
tives that enlighten and inspire.
“We see this as a personal tragedy,
which it certainly was,” said Luther
Barnhardt, a member of UNCA’s
board of trustees. “It was a horrific
episode, but it should give us cause studies and assistant professor of
I reflect on countries of this world
who go through this every day.”
“What I hope this will do is make
us more aware of our role in the
political science. “Any way that
people do that - through their reli
gious faith, through debate and dia
logue or through academic discus
sions - it’s got to be a positive step.”
“Institutions of learning have a
special place in moments like this.
The best colleges and universities
are places where people come to
gether to discuss important issues,
to reflect on important events and
to share in important community
moments. What we’ve got here is,
in a tragic way, something that has
brought all of that together. Cam
puses are places of dialogue, places
of community. That is what I hope
for today,” said Chancellor James
H. Mullen.
Idealistic viewpoints about what
makes the United States the coun
try it is today floated through casual
conversations on the quad and in
the classroom. Somber, reflective
dialogue about the poignant, indi
vidual sacrifices of this horrific day
volleyed between controversial is
sues about terrorism, U.S. foreign
policy and what it means to be
American.
“I’m just happy to be here for the
students. Their questions are at an
extremely high level of sophistica
tion and interest,” said Seamus
McNerney, humanities professor.
“I think the worst thing we could
do, and I don’t see it coming at all,
is just to quiet up and not look at it
objectively.”
Ttying to make some semblance
of sense out of the unpredictable
vortex of destruction that charac
terized Sept. 11 has left many with a
sense of helplessness and frustra
tion. Passion ran high throughout
the day, as the campus struggled to
cope with emotional baggage built
up over the past year.
The campus came together to pro
vide students with a way to liberate
overwhelming emotions in a vari
ety of ways. Linda Pyeritz, a regis
tered nurse in the health center,
even brought along a canine thera
pist, appropriately named Chance,
to help community members re
lease some of their stress. She felt
the dog’s blind, uncompromising
love was one of the most positive
ways to vent heart-rending emo-
“It goes back to that uncondi
tional acceptance that an animal
has,” said Pyeritz. “They certainly
feel the emotions we have. They
don’t know historically what hap
pened, so they can look at us with a
purity and give us a sense of hope
and renewal.” '
As the university began to re-ex-
amine that day, one year later, indi
viduals strove to find some small
positive outcome that partially sal
vages a fragment of solace from the
utter devastation the country felt as
whole when the magnitude of the
disaster became a reality.
The moment the first colossal jet
rent the steel and glass skin of the
Twin Towers, a gaping hole forever
disfigured America’s delusions of
See SEPT. 11 Page 10
I stood at the edge of the World
Trade Center remains. New York
City police officers hustled onlook
ers away from blockaded streets as
voices read the names of terrorist
victims.
I traveled over 12 hours from
UNCA to witness the anniversary
of America’s tragedy.
As I entered New York City, I
understood that I would witness
one of the most significant events
in America’s history.
I listened to conversations in the
crowd amongst New Yorkers and
tourists, and empathized with their
feelings ofoutrage, sorrow and reso-
As the morning continued, gust-
ing wind caused national flags to
rustle angrily, and unsettled dust
stung the eyes of onlookers.
From blocks away, I could hear
the tinny sound of the stage’s mi
crophone, and I saw the huge Ameri
can flags draped on the skyscrapers
before I even got close to the site.
Memorials to firefighters and po
lice officers covered fences and
buildings along the streets. I saw
notes and gifts from all i)ver the
country and the world. American
flags prominently appeared in the
hands of bystanders, and their dress
often reflected our national colors.
I discovered police officers guard
ing many street entrances, refusing
admittance to anyone who wanted
to get closer io the site.
Evading police barricades, I found
our way down to Church Street,
which borders the former Trade
Center location. I joined other per
sistent individuals who wanted to
view the Sept. 11 memorial, where
the twin towers once stood.
Straining to see over people’s
heads, I witnessed the procession of
firefighters carrying flags as the
crowd clapped in appreciation of
their heroism. At the end of the
ceremony, I saw the long line of the
victims’ family members leaving the
site. Many of them carried similar
momentos of loved ones. Looking
at their faces, I noticed that expres
sions of sadness and resolve were
reflected in the melancholy tone of
the crowd.
Slowly the observers dispersed,
drifting into small gatherings to tell
stories that illustrated the terrorist
attacks’ effects on regular Ameri-
Then, I headed to Central Park,
where thousands of people sat in
the Great Lawn holding a candle
light vigil remembering the vic
tims. I gazed at the small points of
flame highlighted in the darkness
with the skyscrapers framing the
scene with more light.
While the orchestra played the
“Blue Danube Waltz,” a tribute to
firefighters, several people in the
crowd had tears slipping down their
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