Pulling Together
UNC Students 'Harambee' in order
to cope with America's tragedy
By April Bethea
with contributions from Ndidi Okeagu
In the midst of national tragedy, the
UNC-CH community joined together in a
sense of family, solidarity and patriotism.
On Sept. II, two hijacked planes
slammed into the World Trade Center twin
towers in New York City. UNC-CH stu
dents and Americans alike, watched in hor
ror as smoke pilfered from the buildings
then gasped as the long-standing icons
crumbled to the ground.
Nearly an hour after the first attack,
another hijacked plane slammed into a cor
ridor of the Pentagon in Washington, D.C.
A fourth plane, which officials said might
have been aimed towards the White
House, came down in a field outside of
Pittsburgh, Penn. Two hundred sixty-six
passengers, pilots and staff died on the
four planes, which were destined for
California.
As of press time, officials in New York
City said an estimated 6,333 people were
reported missing and presumed dead.
Pentagon officials reported 189 persons
missing and presumed dead. In the weeks
following the tragedy, much of the investi
gation of the terrorist acts has centered on
Osama bin Laden, an exiled Saudi dissi
dent who is also a suspect in other terrorist
attacks against the U.k including the 1999
bombing of the U.S.S. Cole.
Bin Laden is presumed to be in hiding
in Afghanistan under the protection of the
Taliban, a devoutly Muslim religious mili
tia that controls about 95 percent of
Afghanistan. As of press time. President
George W. Bush issued an ultimatum for
the Afghanistan's ruling Taliban to hand
over Osama bin Laden and his terrorist fol
lowers or face possible military retaliation.
But hours after his speech to Congress on
Sept. 20, the Taliban rejected Bush s
demand.
But at UNC-CH, leaders encouraged the
community to fight against the terrorist
acts through solidarity and giving, not vio
lence.
"It is important that we do so, for we are
here this noon in a moment of reflection
and meditation to contemplate the tragic
events that have confronted our nation, our
world and our own community, to offer
our support and consolation for those in
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