By April Kirchner
September 11, 2001. It is a day that will forever be etched in the minds of Americans as one of the saddest the nation has ever known. It was the day when a faceless coward imposed death upon thousands of American citizens. The U of L community has been affected, directly and indirectly, by this cowardly act. Mixed emotions of fear, courage, hope, sadness and pride have swept over the campus during the past week. Many students, faculty and other Louisvillians have gathered on several occasions, whether it be during a class or a formal service, to express their emotion and embrace each other during the aftermath of the most tragic act of terrorism the nation has ever faced.Saddened emotions filled the univesity as students and faculty members expressed their heartbreak this past week.
“It makes me sick to my stomach,” said sophomore nursing major Meghan Dillon. “Last night I went to bed and was scared, I was scared for my country.” Senior psychology major Amy Melvin showed her grief at a memorial service held on Friday. Fear has overwhelmed many through this tragedy. “Nobody knows if this is over,” said sports medicine major Dave Wilson. “I don’t think I’ve ever spent an entire day so nervous. You don’t know what will happen next.”
This tragedy has brought many togther to form a sense of pride for the nation. “It brings us all that much closer together,” said junior computer information system major Drew Baucom. “I think they lit a candle they can’t blow out.”
Brian Martin, a teaching assistant for the acting for non-majors class, thinks that everyone should be positive and strong despite all that has happened. “Hold your head up. We have to get through this with America.”
Because of all the feelings of terror, rage and misunderstanding, the Interfaith Center held a prayer service that afternoon at 4 p.m. and invited those that needed to be with others to gather together during a time of prayer and grief.
“The staff called the service,” Father Lou Meiman said. “We all needed to pray and felt that others needed to too.”
The main message that the staff of the Interfaith Center was trying to express was that in the end, there is always love.
“There are so many questions to be answered about this extraordinary tradegy,” Reverand Pat Spearman said. “Love may not ask a question of why, but at times like these it answers the question on how do we go on and love?” Leanne Conaway, who was present during the service, was there for two reasons.
“I have family in D.C. and I have strong faith and I wanted to pray with others,” she said.Friday afternoon, U of L President John Shumaker called a service at the Quad. It began with a drum roll, then the Cardinal Band played the National Anthem. Thousands of students gathered to join in silence with the rest of their classmates and friends to remember what took place Tuesday, Sept. 11. “Take a moment to look around, to your left, your right, in front of you and behind you and notice how many members of campus and the U of L community have come to reflect,” said Alvin Herring, Executive Director of Carrer and Counseling Services and Diversity.
Students, faculty and staff were all present at the service. Bodies stretched the entire length of area between the library and Humanities Building. It was a moment when all were in the same frame of mind with the same intended purpose.
“I came out today because, like everyone else, I have been affected by this act of terrorism,” Melvin said. “Thousands of lives were taken and I am here to offer my condolences to those lives that were lost and those that were effected.”
“We have gathered in memorial,” Herring said. “Our President has called us, leaders of the nation have called us, those who have perished called us, grieving families called us and we have come today because hope has called us.”
As Herring gave his speech, airplanes flew overhead; those who gathered looked up towards the sky and held their breath. Herring did not stop, a sign that we must go on despite what has happened. “We are here today to mark the passage of those lives that were taken from us,” Herring said. “We are striving to stand together as one people, one campus and one mission to lead the world to peace and harmony. We will mark these days not with acts of ignorant tolerance, but with peace.”
Looking around campus many students and faculty wore the colors of the flag and some wore shirts with symbols of our nation.
“It’s times like these when we need to come together as one,” Melvin said.
“The fact that we had thousands of people showed that there’s a collective sense of mourning they wanted to share and it’s important that we as a campus feel that this disaster is something they need to share,” Shumaker said.
At noon, Shumaker asked that all present join with the rest of the nation in a moment of silence to remember those that died during this horrific act of terrorism.
“The most important message is what Alvin Herring said, to go away learning and remembering that we need to be thoughtful and caring of each other,” Shumaker said
