Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Logo of The Spectrum
Thursday, March 28, 2024
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

UB Marks Sept. 11 Anniversary With Quiet Service


Solemn prayers and quiet remembrance characterized UB's memorial service Thursday for the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

As part of the services, a flag was flown at half-mast over the North and South Campuses. Both ceremonies used the same flag that flew over Ground Zero soon after the attacks, and leaders of different faiths from the campus community said brief words and prayers.

"This is far more low-key and reflective than last year," said Dennis Black, vice president for Student Affairs. "Nationally there was a need to commemorate the attacks in a large, significant way last year, whereas this year the mood is more contemplative and reflective."

The first service, on South Campus in front of Hayes Hall, culminated in the flag raising at 8:46 a.m., the time when American Airlines Flight No. 11 crashed into the north tower of the World Trade Center. The second, on North Campus in Coventry Plaza, ended with the commemorative flag being flown at 10:05 a.m., when the south tower collapsed. One minute of silence followed each of the ceremonies.

The Ground Zero flag was donated in a ceremony on Sept. 16, 2002 by Capt. Stephen T. Spall, a 1985 UB alumnus. Spall worked as a member of the New York City Fire Department's Emergency Rescue Task Force at Ground Zero and presented the flag to President William Greiner at the Annual Newman Convocation and Liturgy of the Holy Spirit at St. Joseph's University Church, as part of last year's series of memorial services.

"This is a more reserved, more quiet, more contemplative ceremony. Last year was way more emotional," said President William R. Greiner. "When we were presented with the flag, I had a hard time controlling my emotions,"

Bill Regan, director for the Office of Special Events, and one of the main organizers of the memorial service, said this type of ceremony is necessary.

"This is important for the people who came out because it allows them to take a time-out to remember and contemplate where we were before the attacks, and where we are now."

Representatives of various religious groups on campus spoke at the ceremony. Rev. John Mansfield spoke on behalf of the Christian faith; Michael Zarkin, the Director of Campus Ministries, represented the Jewish faith; Meimanat Grant, a nurse at UB's Center for Student Health, represented the Ba'hai faith; and Brother Mohammed Abdul-Farken of the American Society of Muslims spoke for the Islam faith.

Like many members of the audience, Matt Miller, a freshman physics major, said the program's diversity was commendable.

"I really appreciated the different perspectives from each religion," he said. "As different as they are, they all have basically the same message of peace and tolerance."

Black agreed that peace amid diversity was the prevailing focal point of the ceremony.

"I think the consistent theme of the speakers was how small the world really is," Black said. "I mean, we are raising a flag that flew over Ground Zero within an hour of the towers collapsing. This is a reminder that all types of people were affected by the attacks."

About 15 people attended the ceremony on South Campus, and about 30 were present for its continuation on North Campus.

Apart from those who took part in the ceremony, there were only two undergraduates in attendance on South Campus.

Jodi Saltpeter, a senior communications major, was one of the few undergraduates present.

"I felt I had to be at this," she said. "I felt it couldn't go unrecognized."

Black said he felt the service provided a valuable outlet for those who attended.

"People think about it in a variety of ways," he said. "They reflect on it by watching TV, talking to friends in the union, remembering where they were when it happened, about what it all means. Those that came felt that they needed this more public and somber remembrance."

In terms of attendance, this is a marked contrast from last year's services. Hundreds of students attended a ceremony at the Center for the Arts, and many candlelight vigils were held. At press time Thursday, no such candlelight vigils had been announced for Thursday evening.

Many students complained not enough was being done to commemorate the attacks.

Karenlee Saskowski, a senior media studies major, said the event was poorly promoted.

"There was so little advertisement about the memorial services today," she said. "I was lucky to even know about them, and I know many of my friends who care about what happened had no idea about the day's events."

Members of the Chabad House, the Jewish student center, developed another way to pay respect to the victims of the attack. Slips of paper with names and sometimes pictures of the victims were available in the Student Union so passers-by could write good deeds they would perform on the slips, and hang them on twin remembrance boards.

"Acts of evil were able to change the world," said Rabbi Avrohom Gurari of the Chabad House. "It's important to remember how much impact a good action has."

"It's good for students not only to remember and pray, but to actually do something," said Gurari. "Defy darkness with light."




Comments


Popular









Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Spectrum