The Exponent Online


9/12/01	5 day quick link 9/11 \| 9/10 \| 9/7 \| 9/6 \| 9/5

Effects of terrorism reach across nation, shake students’ lives

By Dave Stephens
Assistant Campus Editor

The young man pushed his way through the crowd, trying to get a glimpse of the television screen.

After watching the images of the World Trade Center collapsing, he began to cry. People near him in the basement of the Purdue Memorial Union tried to comfort him as he wept, but most continued to stare at the scenes of destruction on the screen.

All over campus on Tuesday, people stayed tuned to television sets, radio stations and Internet news servers as the story of the terrorist attack that collapsed the World Trade Center buildings and caused severe damage to the Pentagon unfolded.

"You only see things like this in movies; there's no way this can be real," said Giselle Andolz, a sophomore in the School of Liberal Arts, as she watched with a crowd of about 60 in the lounge of the Union. "It is very disturbing how vulnerable we are. It's all just very, very disturbing."

Students filled all of the seats and sat cross-legged on the floor of the Union lounge, most of them staring in silence as the news commentators spoke.

"I don't know what to say; I'm at a loss for words," said Katie Graham, a sophomore in the School of Agriculture.

Graham said she was worried about a friend whose father was supposed to fly out of La Guardia International Airport in New York.

"She hasn't been able to contact anyone," said Graham. "She's really worried."

Because the attack occurred in the morning , many students didn't know about it and only learned about the news from campus televisions.

"It's really shocking news, I never thought something of this magnitude could happen," said Harsha Gunawedena, a graduate student. "I mean there are two buildings destroyed and thousands killed; I can't believe it."

Brandon Ahenrt, a senior in the School of Technology, said the idea of an attack on American soil really surprised him.

"I just can't imagine how this would happen, especially how they could get control of four planes," said Ahenrt, "I can't fathom how many lives have been lost."

The loss of so many lives caused many in the University to cancel classes, saying it was impossible to learn at such a time.

"This is one of those things that deserve our attention," said Linda Haynes, an academic adviser in the School of Liberal Arts. "It's on a magnitude of Pearl Harbor or the assassination of JFK — something that is much more important than (English 309) Computer Aided Publishing."

Many students, faculty and staff met at St. Thomas Aquinas church for a noon vigil. Word about the vigil spread by e-mail, fliers, word of mouth and by human billboards standing along State street.

"I think that we are all wanting to grieve and to have a chance to show our solidarity to the victims," said Jane Alexander, administrative manger for the department of forestry and natural resources, as she promoted the vigil with her signs. "This is something that needed to be done."

Erica Sagon/Managing Editor

Mourners stand outside St. Thomas Aquinas Center on State Street before today's ongoing vigil for the victims of this morning's terrorist attacks in New York City and Washington D.C.

About 150 people attended the silent vigil, many silently praying.

"I just think that it is extremely important to take time to reflect about what has happened and people should mourn if they need to," said Damon Hall, a senior in the School of Agriculture.

As the day progressed, many of the sidewalks around campus remained emptier than normal, as students stayed focused on the day's events.

The streets were filled, however, with the tolling of the bells at Saint Thomas Aquinas.

"The bells are always tolled when there's any kind of major tragedy or disaster in the world," said Father Andy Pavlax, associate pastor at Saint Thomas.

Purdue Student Government will host another vigil at 8 p.m. tonight on Slayter Hill. The vigil will be to honor those who died in the tragedy.

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Effects of terrorism reach across nation, shake students’ lives