STUDENT LIFE ARCHIVESComforting a community
Campus moves to unite, comfort and protect
By Bernell Dorrough and Annie Chao
Around 11 a.m., the University placed televisions in Ursa’s Caf‚, Ike’s Place, Edison Theatre, Small Group Housing Building #3, Holmes Lounge and the Women’s Building Formal Lounge. In addition to keeping students informed of the day’s events, the university also had professors and counselors at these locations, so students could discuss their concerns.
“This is an opportunity for the WU community to come together,” said Desiree White, an assistant professor in the psychology department who was on hand to talk to students at Edison Theater. “I think the administration’s efforts in providing this opportunity for students have been impressive.”
At 7 p.m., nearly 1,500 students gathered in the Quad for a solemn community gathering. The thirty-minute ceremony opened with remarks from Chancellor Wrighton and included speakers from various campus-wide religious organizations. Speakers emphasized the concept of a WU family and students’ dependence on one another in this time of need.
“I think it’s good to see people come together as a community,” said junior Jonathan Bird, editor-in-chief of the Washington Witness. “Today has been a very surreal day, and this kind of formal structure helps people deal with their feelings and ground it in reality.”
The gathering concluded with a five-minute period of silence and candle lighting. Afterwards, counselors were available on the steps of Ridgley Hall, and Holmes Lounge opened as a place for discussion.
-Student Life, Sept. 14, 2001
Muslim Community Reaction
Muslim Students wary of backlash
By Brendan Watson
The WU community is not immune to such attacks either. According to Steven Givens, special assistant to the Chancellor, almost immediately after the attacks, a student with a “Middle Eastern-sounding name” received a threatening phone call. As a result of that phone call, the university web-based telephone directory was taken offline, and administrators, including representatives from the Office of International Relations, met with Muslim students to discuss safety concerns. MSA estimates that there are between 150 and 200 Muslim students at WU.
“While physical safety is a concern,” said MSA member Rouhollah Rahmani, “it is not as common as vandalism and verbal harassment. In a situation where no one knows what happened, in many ways, it’s the most dangerous time. Because people don’t know what happened, they can assume anything, and, going off those assumptions, they can do anything.”
“We as American Muslims utterly condemn the vicious and cowardly acts of terrorism that occurred today,” said an MSA representative in a statement at Tuesday’s university-wide vigil. “We join with all Americans in calling for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators. No political or religious cause could ever justify such immoral acts.”
-Student Life, Sept. 14, 2001
Students support Muslims, Negative stereotypes continue nationally
By Diane Holly
Sophomore Uthayla Abdalla, president of the Muslim Students Association (MSA), said she knows people who got the “go home, you don’t belong here” treatment. She also described an Arab community in the Chicago area where she used to live that was hit with riots and people smashing Arab storefront windows in response to the September 11 attacks.
“So few people are actually involved in these [terrorist] attacks and other horrible, horrendous acts on humanity, and yet. all [Muslims are] getting a bad rap,” said Abdalla.
On the other end of the spectrum, Abdalla pointed out that members of the St. Louis community left bouquets of flowers in the front the mosque she attends.
“People were sincerely caring,” she said. “Most people at WU are far more intellectually enlightened than the general public and because of that, they are far less likely to do anything irrational [in response to the attacks],” said MSA Treasurer, Owais Ahmed.
-Student Life, Sept. 10, 2002
Group Outreach
WILD will be a benefit concert
By Allison Barrett
Team 31 decided Wednesday to convert this fall’s WILD into a keg-free benefit event. Proceeds will go towards relief efforts in the wake of Tuesday’s terrorist attacks.
WILD executives stressed that detailed plans for the Friday, September 28 event are still being considered.
The decision to convert WILD to a benefit event came just one day after the attacks on New York and Washington. Wednesday evening, Team 31 members discussed how they would host the event, raise money, and get campus groups involved.
Team 31 has not yet determined where the proceeds will go, nor have they set an estimated goal for fundraising efforts, according to Team 31 Co-Chair Lou Goldhaber.
Both Goldhaber and fellow Team 31 Co-Chair Stephen Casey are asking student groups for their participation and cooperation in the event, subtitled “Party with a Purpose.”
-Student Life, Sept. 14, 2001
Hundreds gather to donate blood
By Erin Hochman
On Wednesday, Gateway Community Blood Services, a St. Louis-area blood bank and donation center, set up an emergency blood drive in the Gargoyle, located in the basement of Mallinckrodt. The drive at WU was one of three area centers set up to collect blood.
By 9 a.m. when the drive began, about 75 potential donors had already arrived. Due to the sheer multitude of people appearing to donate blood, organizers began to turn people away by 11:30 a.m. Coordinators sent away at least 400 people wanting to donate blood.
“It’s phenomenal. I wish we had blood drives half this size on a regular basis,” said Leslie Woolcott, assistant director of marketing at Gateway. “It’s an antidote to having turned on the television yesterday and seeing that tragedy and being stunned.”
Gateway drew blood from about 70 people at the WU drive. On Tuesday alone Gateway drew blood from 1,000 St. Louis residents.
-Student Life, Sept. 14, 2001