By Carrie Howard
As our nation unites to aid and support the victims of the terrible terrorist acts upon the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that occurred last Tuesday, the campus community at the University of Louisville has also come together this past week. Through many different events, U of L has shown campus unity in the face of tragedy.
On the day of the tragic events, President John Shumaker sent an e-mail message to all U of L students and employees stating, “What we can do at U of L is to remain calm and determined not to let today’s events deter us from our resolve to be one community.” Also in the letter, Shumaker mentioned the many arrangements were made to support the university community.
Throughout the day on Tuesday, the Red Barn and the Student Activities Center’s television lounges broadcasted the latest updates on the events. Members of the university counseling staff stayed extra hours to help students deal with their thoughts, fears, and grief. The Interfaith Center and the Baptist Student Union also opened its doors to those who needed prayer and support. Resident Directors and Assistants were available to anyone in housing that needed to talk or needed guidance as well. “All across campus, groups have banded together to make a difference,” said junior English major Kristin Cantrell.
Dr. Bridget Pregliasco, Assistant Vice President of Student Life, encouraged students to be together and help each other out during this time. “One way to support the victims is to give blood,” Pregliasco said. There will be a blood drive on campus the 25th and the 26th of this month.
Despite the terror, Shumaker insisted that the university continue with classes. Dr. Dewey Clayton, a political science professor, said, “I believe it was a positive thing that Dr. Shumaker kept classes going because it kept everything on a degree of normalcy. I incorporated the issues into my own class discussions.” Clayton went on to say that his students were better able to deal with their thoughts and emotions by expressing them with others in the classroom setting. Students were united not only through events, but also united through learning and in the classroom as well.
Student Government Association President Carlton Brown felt as though student government also took initiative by starting a victim’s relief fund. The SGA is only one of the many groups on campus that have started funds, blood drives, and other relief efforts for victims of the terrorist acts. Other groups have allowed students to be open and share their emotions. “What we really need right now,” stated Brown, “is to allow people to vent.” Brown mentioned that the U of L Counseling Center has been open to serve anyone needing support.
Baptist Student Union Director, Angela Girdley said that she was “saddened” by the tragic events. She encouraged students to “talk about it, learn what the facts are, and to deal with those facts.” She went on to say that students should be in touch with their feelings and not to take all their anger out on an individual. . .another call for unity, not only between American students, but international students as well.
No group or individual on campus was exempt from feeling the shock of Tuesday’s events. On Friday, September 14th, the campus community acknowledged the families and those who perished in the terrorist attacks through a brief moment of silence. Students filled the Quad between the Bingham Humanities Building and the Ekstrom Library to hear the Cardinal Marching Band play “The Star Spangled Banner,” and to reaffirm unity as a campus and as a nation. Students waved flags, held hands, and solemnly saluted America.
Girdley, the BSU Director, summed the week up well by stating, “We haven’t seen the end of all this. There is much more to come. I believe we will be more and more directly affected by the attacks in the days and weeks to come. Yet, we need to stay focused, and stay united
