Page 14
Focus
Sept. 27, 2001
Daily life came to a standstill: everyone glued to their TVs
Kate Houston
Reporter
Sept. 11, 2001. It is a date that
will live in infamy in the pages of
not only American, but of world his
tory. Just as we asked our parents
what they were doing when Kennedy
was shot, our children will listen to
our stories of this generation’s
Pearl Harbor. Although this cam
pus is hundreds of miles from be
ing directly affected, many Elon
students have friends and family
from both New York and Washing
ton, D.C.
While the world grinded to a
standstill and held its breath as the
death toll skyrocketed, Elon was no
exception. Although classes con
tinued, Sept. 11 was not just an
other day.
“I was taking a nap, and my
friend from home called and asked
if I had talked to my parents,” fresh
man Zack Kevit said. “I had no idea
what she was talking about and when
she told me what happened, I thought
she was joking.”
Kevit ran next door to watch his
neighbor’s television. “Eveiyoneinthe
hall had the news on,” he said. “I just
couldn’t believe what was going on.”
Kevit, who lives in Springfield,
VA, about ten miles out of Washing
ton, D.C., became extremely worried
with the news about the Pentagon.
“Although my parents don’t woric
in the Pentagon, most of the families
in my neighborhood have at least one
parent that works there,” he said. “I
went to my hometown friend’s dorm
and everyone from home was online
asking who had or had not heard
from their parents. Everyone was
concemed for everyone else.”
Freshman Jennifer Lane was at
College Coffee when she heard the
news. As a piccolo player in the
marching band, she was given only
vague information about the crashes
when a moment of silence was
called.
“We were getting ready to play
and the band director gathered us
together and told us not to freak out
because he didn’t really know how
bad it was but two planes crashed into
the World Trade Center and another
one in the Pentagon,” she said. “It
didn’t seem like a big deal at first.”
After playing “The Star Spangled
Banner” instead of their rehearsed
music. Lane headed home to find her
roommate sleeping in bed.
“She’s from right outside Wash
ington, D.C., and she didn’t seem too
upset about the World Trade Center,
but when I said ‘Pentagon’ she
sprang out of bed and grabbed the
phone,” Lane said. “She kept dial
ing forever and ever, but couldn’t get
through. I watched her freak out for
about an hour until she finally heard
from her dad. I felt so bad for her
because she was so upset and there
was nothing we could do for her.”
Lane, like most people, sat glued
to the TV as the story unraveled.
She was stunned, and couldn’t be
lieve what she was seeing.
“Something that big and promi
nent is not supposed to fall,” she
said. “It’s the kind of thing you
watch and your whole heart just
drops into your stomach.”
“I was playing Play Station
when my roommate came in and
told me,” freshman Marc
Krwawecz said. “We watched TV
and everything sank in for about an
hour. Then I realized that my
cousin works across the street from
the World Trade Center. I called my
mom and left a message.”
Krwawecz worried for a few
hours until his mom called back to
let him know his cousin had gotten
out in time, but had seen everything.
“It makes you think,” he said.
Krwawecz noticed the difference
around his dorm in Jordan Center.
“People are
usually out
side frolick
ing,” he said.
“But it was
empty and
quiet out
side. Every
one was
glued to the
TV.”
Life
around cam
pus, around
the nation and
around the
world was not
only different
that day. “Everything’s different,”
Krwawecz said. “Class syllabi are
changing, and our nation as a whole
is pulling together and going
through some major changes.”
Krwawecz’s roommate, fresh
man Dan DeTour, thinks his atti
tude about life is a little bit differ
ent since that fateful Tuesday. “We
have to appreciate life more,” he
said. “You just never know what’s
gonna happen.”
Kevit’s attitude about the whole
thing has been through some changes
as well. “At first I was really angry,”
he said. My first reaction was that
Photographer: Elizabeth Sudduth
A flag hangs outside Chandler dorm. Students displayed
their patriotism several places on campus.
I should go join the Marines and
kill people. But I calmed down and
decided that just wouldn’t work
right. It was just such a big waste
of life. Now I find myself taking
more time to appreciate life. I’m
paying attention to everything
I’ve always taken for granted.”
The effects from the tragic
events were immense, they are
still present and they will live
with us forever. But by joining to
gether and sharing memories of the
event, the country and Elon can be
gin to heal.
Editor’s Note:
September 11 Is a day none of
us will ever forget. I wanted to
cover this important event, but
offer some new angles, rather
than the recount of the days
events and the ever increasing
number of missing victims.
It is important to be fully
educated about all of the issues
that surround news events, not
just the sensational aspects of it.
I hope that you have educated
yourself on the issues related to the terrorism acts, and
you can gain new information or perspective from these
articles.
Even though it has been more than two weeks since
the tragic events occurred, as I edited these stories I still
felt shock accompanied by deep sorrow. I suspect these
feelings will never fade. No matter how much we are
exposed to the tragic events, they might lose some of their
shock value, but all of it will never disappear.
- Katie Bonebrake
Next Week's Focus Topic:
Rave Qulture
■■-i-
If you are interested in writing an article or have any suggestions for future
topics call x7247 or e-mail Katie.Bonebrak^elon.e^u
Victim Update
Estimate of missing persons: 6,398
Confirmed dead: 287; 224 have^been identified
Number of persons on board crashed planes: 157
Pennsylvania
Number of persons on board crashed plane: 44
Washington ^
Confirmed dead at the Pentagon: 189
Number of persons on board crashed plane: iS4
- Statistics gathered from CNN.com