TERROR STRIKES THE U.S.
TUESDAY'S
DISORDER
IN BRIEF
Joanna Shunk
WORLD AND NATION EDITOR
At 8:45 the first hijacked
jetliner drove into the North
Tower. Another jet came crashing
into the South tower nine minutes
later. The towers levelled with the
horizon while Guilford students
attended their 9:55 classes.
Twenty minutes before the
students were freed, a third jet
plunged into the Pentagon. One
more plane crashed outside
Pittsburgh.
The incessant rush of new
terrors gave way to New York's
mayor Rudolph Giuliani tolling
with the bells and President Bush
heralding America's defenses.
"The number of deaths will
be more than we can bear, said
Giuliani soon after the towers
were struck. "Our hearts go out to
all the families that will suffer.
They do not deserve this."
But it was Bush's phrase that
echoed among students: "We will
hunt (the terrorists) down."
Meanwhile, first year Adam
Rosenblatt read Psalm 20 in front
of the Hut. "May the Lord answer
you on the day of distress,"
Rosdenblatt swayed with friends.
"May the name of the God of
Yaakos fortify you. May he send
you help from the sanctuary and
support you from Zion."
Leaders around the world
sent their sorrows to the United
States. Italian prime minister
Silvio Berlusconi condemned
the' Vile and brutal affront against
humanity."
Russian President Vladimir
Putin urged Bush that'these
inhuman acts must not go unpun
ished."
Iraqi television and
Guilford's Amnesty International
meeting both hit on the notion of
the attack being punishment itself.
"Our foreign policy is such
that we can expect this to
happen,"said Ben Hebner. And
yet, where was this prophesied?
THE
GUILFORDIAN
Greensboro, NC
Katy Wurster
NEWS EDITOR
Bryan Auditorium was totally
silent.
The seats, the steps, and the
entranceways were full to overflow
ing, but no one spoke. Max Carter,
Coordinator of Campus Ministries,
stood at the microphone.
"Those responsible," said a
voice from the crowd.
"We hold those responsible in
the light," replied Carter.
In the face of the tragic attacks
that occurred in New York City and
Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, the
Guilford College community re
sponded in typical Quaker fashion —
with silence.
"We felt the need of a lot of
folks," said Carter, "of an appropriate
way to respond [to today's events]."
Carter described the many students,
staff, and faculty who spent the
morning watching the news in the
Underground as "totally catatonic.
We've never been
hit like this in
people's memory,"
he said.
"When
Quakers don't
know what to do,
we sit in silence."
The silent
meeting concluded
with members of
the community
offering names of
friends, relatives,
and others closely
involved to be held
in the prayers of
the entire group.
These names included the President,
the loved ones of those responsible,
and even those who were themselves
responsible for the tragedy.
"It was very comforting to
know that our community could
gather in support of each other," said
senior Alison Austin. "Even though
it doesn't do much to lessen the pain,
it helps to know that there are those
around you who care."
Although no discussion of the
actual events occurred during the
meeting, Carter conveyed his admi
ration of the "deep and penetrating
analysis" of the situation that he feels
Guilford students have taken upon
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themselves. "Students here under
stand that violence doesn't come out
of a vacuum," he said.
Austin agreed but voiced fears
that this understanding would not
extend to those involved in making
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students on campus might feel
alienated or threatened by the rest of
the community. He emphasized the
importance of remaining open
minded and inclusive.
Students who do wish to
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September 14, 2001
the major decisions
of the next few days.
"I think that we're
very selfish with our
international poli
cies," she said. "I
think that (George)
Bush is going to be
arrogant about
wanting to blame
someone else and
not admit that our
actions towards other
countries could have
precipitated this."
Carter also
expressed worries
that international
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discuss any aspect of the events are
encouraged to do so. "We hope
students who are experiencing feelings
of loss or anger or despair will choose
to talk through these feelings with
other people who can lend support.
Staff members from the Counseling
Center, Residence Life, and Student
Life are keeping their schedules
flexible so that they can assist students
as needed," said Mona Olds, Dean of
Student Life.
The consequences of Tuesday's
tragedies are, at this point, unpredict
able. The loss of life has already
exceeded the imaginable, and, in the
event of retaliations on the part of the
United States, may increase exponen
tially. Certainly, the fear and confu
sion experienced by people across the
nation are unprecedented in recent
memory.
But on the campus of Guilford
College, the dark clouds are edged
with an unmistakable line of silver. It
is in the face of catastrophe that
community solidifies, and on Tuesday,
September 11, the Guilford commu
nity proved its worth as the kind of
community that does not attempt to
ease pain, but to provide strength.
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