The day after: A university responds

There are a variety of words we can use to describe the terrorist attacks of Tuesday morning: tragic, shocking, horrifying. We may ask ourselves how and why it could have happened, who was responsible, and where we might go from here. Regardless of the all-too-futile words we might attempt to apply, and irrespective of the questions we ask, the fact remains that lives were lost, buildings crumbled and our hearts were struck with fear.

We have witnessed destruction in so many ways, not just of skyscrapers and jet planes, but of trust and security. For those of us in the religious community, one thing remains constant: faith. We turn now more than ever to that higher power, that which provides us with sustenance and with the hope that good will ultimately prevail -- a force many of us call God. For people of faith, this must become our finest hour.

In coping with these unprecedented acts of terror -- truly, the Pearl Harbor of our generation -- our emotions run high, and understandably so. Many of us are overwhelmed by anger and are searching for an outlet, for someone to confront or to blame. There is much speculation that what occurred Tuesday morning was perpetrated in the name of Islam, and this may or may not prove to be true. The Muslim Students' Association asks that the Penn community and the community-at-large reserve judgment, and that they not project their anger onto Muslims as people or Islam as a religion.

Islam is a religion of peace and submission to God, and strives toward stability on every conceivable level. Muslims may only use violence in extremely exclusive situations, and under no conditions are innocent civilians allowed to be killed or harmed in any way. Such cowardly acts are considered murder, which, indeed, is a despised sin in Islam. Therefore, the MSA condemns the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001 and deems them in direct contradiction with the values and laws of Islam.

In the wake of destruction, we now seek something to build upon. Let us put our political, racial and theological differences aside and build on our common respect for the sanctity of human life and security; let us not worsen this tragedy by pointing fingers and creating tension. The MSA is open to engaging in constructive dialogue with other religious groups or members of the Penn community, and offers its condolences to the loved ones of those who were killed and injured, and its sympathies to those whom these attacks have left distraught. May God help us all.

--Muslim Students' Association

Tuesday, our university was tested with the ultimate challenge -- to be a community. Some woke up to a television flashing surreal pictures of a smoking New York skyline. Others were just emerging from class, unaware that our nation had been shaken to its core. It would be up to us to inform each other, comfort one another and simply come together as the events of the day unfolded.

And we rose to the challenge, and proved to ourselves that we are one unified community -- both students and staff alike.

I have never seen a community, and a country, come together on such a shocking and terrifying day. Here at Penn, we beat ourselves up for being an apathetic campus. But when it truly counts, we stand up and stand together.

Houston Hall immediately became the gathering point for both students and staff. So many expressed interest in getting involved by donating blood. Members of the Penn community poured into the center of campus at a nighttime vigil held on College Green. Irvine Auditorium was filled by those who simply needed a place to let their emotions be felt.

But as a community, we also began to ask a lot of questions. We questioned the meaning of security, and re-evaluated our understanding of America's role in an interdependent world. We questioned the meaning of our future, fairness and fate.

We also began to question the meaning of freedom.

We work and live at a university where intellectual freedom is at the core of our values. We enjoy the freedom to explore numerous interests, and we have the freedom to dream and to build our own future. We make our home in Philadelphia, the birthplace of freedom, whose character is shaped by landmarks of our nation's history.

So our community is shaken when our freedoms are threatened with a sequence of such horrifying attacks. But we now have the freedom to make a choice.

Let's choose to support one another and value one another. Let's choose to engage in open and meaningful dialogue. Let's choose to acknowledge and appreciate the freedoms we enjoy -- the same freedoms which so many fight for every day in countries where war is unfortunately a way of life.

Let's simply choose to be a community. We have proved, in fact, that we already are. Dana Hork Chairwoman, Undergraduate Assembly

The normally springy step of the typical Penn student is today a glue- to-the-pavement kind of step. On Locust Walk, a young woman stands magnetized to her cell phone, a friend holding her hand, limp in the early autumn air. A little boy clutches a fallen twig, looks around, subtly sensing the tension that is permeating Locust Walk. His parents will forever remember where they were when they heard the news.

I am an 18-year-old freshman, busy hiding my crowded parade of emotions behind my dramatic, red sunglasses. Shock... disbelief... horror... back to shock.

My first thought was, "You really don't expect something like this in America." This was closely followed by, "I am awful to expect this kind of thing in other countries." Then, "Please God, let it not affect me." Then, "Please forgive me for being selfish."

At my fist class, one student arrived, dripping black mascara. Her father works in the World Trade Center. But he is OK. He didn't go into work today. Someone else couldn't reach his brother in New York.

I left and headed towards Hillel. I needed support. I wanted to pray. I wanted to scream. I thought I might faint. I wanted to break something. I wanted someone to hold me, and convincingly say that every thing would be OK.

I now sit among friends, where emptied eyes now stare at the TV. I look for closure. But life just does not work that way. Julie Garson College '05

As a student community, we cannot help but be shaken by recent tragedies. College is a time of personal development, and all of us will forever have to cope with these events as part of our undergraduate experience.

For the past several days the Penn community has focused its attentions on treating the shock, distress and grief arising from the events of Sept. 11. The campus has assembled several times in order to lean on each other for support.

The organizers of No Place Like Penn have decided to proceed with all activities to create a venue for students to assemble under less trying circumstances.ÿThis weekend will hopefully offer students the option to remove themselves from the distress of the past few days.

Let us come together in community to support each other and demonstrate that, even in adversity, there truly is no place like Penn.

Kevin Meyers President, Social Planning and Events Committee

At this fateful time in American history -- a time that we will no doubt look back upon as the beginning of a new era -- we must renew our allegiance to each other and to the values upon which this country was founded.

In recent times, the meaning of words such as `freedom' and `liberty' have become diluted. It is only now, at this time of intense personal and national tribulation, that we are able to clearly see the defining ideals of America. These ideals are poignantly illustrated in the faces of the countless volunteers, blood donors and otherwise concerned individuals on our campus, in our neighborhoods, and across our country. It is my hope that this national tragedy, however horrendous and despicable, will unite America as never before.

Our grandparents had World War II; our parents had Civil Rights. Americans have defined themselves with respect to their ability to stand together in the face of adversity. Just as our parents before us, we must answer the call. Americans everywhere must respond with renewed vigor to what is being rightfully called an "act of war."

Rest assured that the government will respond with swift and just action; however, we as citizens must do our part to renew confidence in the power of the American spirit.

E-mail your representatives and thank them for their hard work and leadership.

If you see a fireman or police officer, thank them.

If you see a veteran or a current member of the military, thank them.

If you have a flag, proudly display it.

The ultimate goal of any terrorist agenda is the defamation of the human spirit. If we give in to these senseless acts of violence by letting them affect our spirit of solidarity, then we increase their successes tenfold. We must demonstrate that America is a people, not places on a map. And as such, we cannot be defeated by physical force, for continued defiance of the force only make us collectively stronger.

Furthermore, this call to arms is for all Americans, regardless of background, ethnicity or religion.

We must immediately quell any movement against any ethnic group of Americans; this especially includes Americans of Middle Eastern descent. Our country was founded on the idea of freedom from persecution, and we must fervently fight to sustain that freedom. By turning inward, we only aid our enemies.

This morning, a new America has awakened. An America whose people must once again learn to cherish the liberties for which, throughout the years, a vast number of people have died to protect.

On Sept. 11, 2001, that number increased.

Charles Carson First-year Music Ph.D. student

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