Spring Break
No ceremony on campus for Sept. 11
by Lital Shair
News | 9/18/07
Posted online at 2:25 AM EST on 9/18/07
While some students were disappointed that there was no official commemorative ceremony on campus last week marking the sixth anniversary of Sept. 11, Student Life administrators said the tragedy was remembered at Brandeis in other ways.
On Sept. 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, another hit the Pentagon and a fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, PA. More than 3,000 people died in the largest terrorist attack on American soil in the country's history.
Last year, the five-year anniversary of the attacks was commemorated with an interfaith service and a faculty panel on campus. Students also placed American flags on the Great Lawn, and a symposium was held on the topic of life after the tragedy.
This year the attack wasn't remembered in a public event on campus.
"It is disgusting that they didn't talk about [Sept. 11] at all [this year]," Jessica Fialkoff '10 said. She added that there should have been at least a campuswide e-mail sent out.
"I just feel that nothing was done and it was such a day that shook the lives of America," Miriam Nachum '10 said.
Prof. Gordon Fellman (SOC) also said he was surprised there was no community event to commemorate the day.
"We spent about half an hour talking about [Sept. 11] in one of my classes," Fellman said.
Student Life administrators, however, said students still managed to remember Sept. 11, even though the University held no official ceremony.
"This year, I really believe students are doing something more private rather than something on a larger scale," Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams said. "It wasn't an intentional disrespect or disregard, but at the same time, there was nothing officially organized. [The community] organizes when it feels a need to organize."
Muslim Chaplain Imam Talal Eid agreed.
"There was [a] memorial for Sept. 11, but it was not organized in a group session," Eid said. "Rather, it was left to individuals to have their own prayers."
On Sept. 11, 2001, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City, another hit the Pentagon and a fourth plane crashed in Shanksville, PA. More than 3,000 people died in the largest terrorist attack on American soil in the country's history.
Last year, the five-year anniversary of the attacks was commemorated with an interfaith service and a faculty panel on campus. Students also placed American flags on the Great Lawn, and a symposium was held on the topic of life after the tragedy.
This year the attack wasn't remembered in a public event on campus.
"It is disgusting that they didn't talk about [Sept. 11] at all [this year]," Jessica Fialkoff '10 said. She added that there should have been at least a campuswide e-mail sent out.
"I just feel that nothing was done and it was such a day that shook the lives of America," Miriam Nachum '10 said.
Prof. Gordon Fellman (SOC) also said he was surprised there was no community event to commemorate the day.
"We spent about half an hour talking about [Sept. 11] in one of my classes," Fellman said.
Student Life administrators, however, said students still managed to remember Sept. 11, even though the University held no official ceremony.
"This year, I really believe students are doing something more private rather than something on a larger scale," Associate Dean of Student Life Jamele Adams said. "It wasn't an intentional disrespect or disregard, but at the same time, there was nothing officially organized. [The community] organizes when it feels a need to organize."
Muslim Chaplain Imam Talal Eid agreed.
"There was [a] memorial for Sept. 11, but it was not organized in a group session," Eid said. "Rather, it was left to individuals to have their own prayers."
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