Campus Grieves over Tragedy

Managing Editor

Students awoke on Wednesday morning to see Walker Wall painted black from end to end, in remembrance of those who died in Tuesday morning’s terrorist attack. Traces of the multicolored expressions the wall had borne before could still be seen faintly where the paint was thin, but their form and message were largely obscured by the representation of the world’s shock and mourning.

Aidan Doherty Students painted Walker Wall in remembrance of the victims of Tuesday’s attack.

About twenty five students participated in the painting of the wall, with new students arriving to help as other students finished their contributions. Painting the wall had been discussed first at the Mudd-Blaisdell student forum, and was then brought to the four other student forums around campus.

Students reacted to Tuesday’s catastrophe in other ways as well. On Tuesday at lunch Matt Beals ’02 knelt in front of Frank cafeteria, in a position of prayer or meditation. Students entering Frary were presented with the following statement handwritten on the back of Beals’ t-shirt (pictured above), "Today we have lost mothers, fathers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, remember them." "So much lost, so many," was written on the front. Beals remained throughout lunch, silently displaying his message, and at dinner was seen in front of Frary cafeteria in the same position. Students and staff patted Beals on the head or shoulders in solidarity.

Beals’ appearance at Frary inspired many others on campus, including Joseph Jordan ’02, to express their own feelings on the disaster.

During Tuesday night snack at Frary, Jordan called for attention from the students present, and asked that everyone observe a minute of silence Wednesday at noon. That night Jordan posted several flyers around campus asking students to observe a minute of silence, "in memoriam of the people who died in New York City, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia on Tuesday."

"I was just stunned. It’s not about politics right now, it’s about thousands of people dead," Jordan said on Tuesday.

The following afternoon Jordan said, "For a long time I had a really hard time formulating a response and, actually, I saw that my friend Matt Beals was up on Frary steps meditating there. I felt like I had to do something, and I felt like this was something I could do."

The minute of silence was observed by some students, including Jordan. "I was here [in my room]. I was going to be in the dining halls but I was here and I was silent," Jordan said.

By Wednesday afternoon more students had made public their reactions to the attack, including the authors of two statements in multicolored chalk in front of Frary cafeteria.

"9*11*01

We shall remember this day always but in the days to come we must remmber that, through the tears, we as a nation came together as one to help those in need."

"Sept. 11, 2001

WE SHALL NEVER FORGET

May we see peaqce in our time. -MCM"

Students, faculty, and administrators are planning *All flights into LAX were rerouted to the airport in Ontario, California. more events to discuss the disaster, as well as activities to assist the victims. The School of Politics and Economics is planning a forum entitled, "Attack on America: Impact, Response, and Implications," to be held this Friday from 1 pm to 4 pm in Albrecht Auditorium. The Sponsor Program organized a campus-wide fund-raising and letter writing effort to benefit the victims and their families. The first tables for this event were set up during Thursday night snack and will continue through 5 pm on Friday.