It isn't often that a day defies description, as the events of September 11, 2001 did. Although words could not describe the horror of what happened, actions stood out, as well as feelings and sentiments, thoughts of hope, and the brotherhood which is often absent from our society. Students at Washington College and Americans across the nation showed a desire to help other human beings in need.
While still recovering from the wake of Tuesday's events, the members of WC were able to stand together and, in whatever way possible, help each other and the victims of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
As of Wednesday, students had contributed over $1,200 in donations, according to sophomore Colleen Costello. The Red Cross' bloodmobile experienced "more than we can handle," according to one drive worker, in terms of blood donor turnout the Wednesday after the attack.
On campus, the shadow of the attack could be seen everywhere: in the shocked look shared by many, the conversations floating about in the air by Washington Square, and in the prayers of students gathered in Kent circle Tuesday night in a candle-light vigil. During the day Wednesday, many students circled around the flag pole praying for the victims and their families, in multiple prayer sessions.
"I'm really impressed both with the support and the contributions that people are giving. We raised over $1,200 just to pay for supplies to give to the survivors, and I don't even know how many people signed up to donate blood [Wednesday]," Costello said. 'I'm really impressed, even in everybody wearing red, white, and blue today just as a nice way to say, 'We support our country.'"
The administration did what it could to help the college community as well, canceling classes the day of the attack, extending Cove hours in the days following it, and making the personnel from the campus counseling center available for students who needed help coping with the tragedy.
President Toll sent out two heartfelt e-mails, and teachers across campus did their best to help the students and themselves try to understand what happened Tuesday morning.
The sports coaches, as well, expressed an emotional reaction to their teams the day of the attack.
"I play lacrosse," said Senior Robin Necker, "and our coach got us all together and told us what was going on, and had an open forum for discussion to make sure every body could be involved in a support system."
Students were touched by the events in many ways, arousing diverse emotions. Sophomore Alex Schuetz felt "angry because somebody attacked a bunch of innocent people who certainly didn't do anything to warrant that," and sad because of the reactions of some people "celebrating in the streets because some of my people died and they didn't for any particular reason . . . . There is never any reason to celebrate civilian deaths."
Even students with no connection to the attack still felt the urge to help.
"It even hasn't sunk in yet. It is a tragedy and I feel terrible about it, but right now I'm just trying to make sure everybody else is getting through it," said sophomore Jay Harrison. "I don't know anybody personally in New York or Washington, D.C., but I know a lot of people that do, so I want to try and be there for them."
Harrison decided to give blood because "I want to be able to do something. I gave some money to a donation," he said, "but I didn't feel that it was enough to help out."
Across the campus, even "away messages" on AOL Instant Messenger showed what was on everyone's mind, as students left messages with their extensions and a promise to listen if anyone needed to talk, and with sentiments that the victims are in their prayers.
"It's really been something to see the school and everybody come out together. I don't think I've ever seen such displays of empathy anywhere," Harrison said.
Students giving blood Wednesday had deep feelings on the event, some not even willing to comment on the matter because they were so emotional. Those that did talk about it shared the same desire just to help out.
"It is nice to feel like you can do something to help your country at time when you don't feel like you have any control," said Necker.
"I think it's really incredible the way everyone is contributing," Costello said.
Not all students share a positive reaction to the campus response, as during the day following the attack, it seemed as if parts of the student body showed apathy. "I've seen bigger displays of empathy at birthday parties," Schuetz said.
Sophomore Leigh McCall got comfort in the physical reaction, the donations and the giving blood "to an extent. I think the amount of apathy that is present is very disheartening, because there are a lot of people who have felt this and are really taking it to heart, and I'd like to see more of that.
"I think that when people get up in the lunch hall and change the channel [from news coverage of the disaster] and you ask them to put it back, and they say that they 'Don't want to watch that s--,' I think that is ridiculous," McCall added.
"I'm not surprised by [the seeming apathy]," said Necker, "because it is hard to put yourself in a situation that is so much bigger than you and try and get a point of view on it."
Despite some criticism, the college's response to the tragedy was heartwarming. All Wednesday, students could be seen coming together and doing whatever they could to help out the victims and those students who were suffering emotionally over this world-changing event.
McCall said, "I definitely think life as we knew it changed ... This was the defining moment of our generation ... it is the worst thing to ever happen to this country, and I'd like to see us come out of it even stronger."
"They thought this attack would beat us, that it would cripple our country and cause havoc and riots. They were wrong," said junior Christine Solle. "We're picking ourselves up and dusting ourselves off."
Throughout all the pain and horror, the students of WC can look to each other for an example of the good in this world.
As Necker said, "Something this big hasn't happened in a really long time, but our college was able to pull together."
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