On a clear weekend under blue skies -- like those on September 11, 2001 -- UB was out and about, going about their daily work and finding ways to mark the events that occurred three years ago. The Bulls' football game and several student organizations created a sense of high spirit during an anniversary of tragedy.
"9/11 was a divisive time in the U.S.," said Andrea Jacobs, director of Jewish Life and Hillel. "The events this weekend show that American citizens want to come together for peace and unity."
During the pre-game show of the Bulls' home opener versus Syracuse on Saturday, a commemorative procession made its way through the field before a sold-out crowd.
As Lee Ann Womack sang the national anthem, two jet planes flew over the roaring crowd, followed by Olympian Bruce Jenner and local first-responders carrying a large Ground Zero flag across the field.
Also during the weekend, the Organization of Arab Students, the Muslim Student Association, and eight other cultural Student Associations sponsored a weekend of activities to create a sense of cultural unity throughout UB.
The clubs sponsored a commemorative prayer service and ribbon ceremony on Friday, a trip to Darien Lake on Saturday, and a Unity Picnic on Sunday.
"On a world scale, it's unfortunate that that such violence and conflict is going on. But everyone here today came together from different corners of the world," said Omar Mehr, president of the Pakistani SA and a junior social studies major. "It shows that with a little motivation, things can get done. You can start with something small and it gets bigger from there."
On Friday, the OAS and the Muslim SA created a banner entitled, "In Remembrance: Unity Weekend" that hung on one of the pillars in front of the Student Union. Members of the cultural clubs and interested participants went up and signed the banner throughout the weekend, according to Mazin Kased, president of the OAS and senior marketing major.
"We got people from the different cultural clubs to sign the banner for peace and unity," he said. "A lot of people commended us on it."
Between flipping burgers and offering everyone beverages, Kased took time to reflect on the rest of the weekend.
"The turnout for Darien Lake was very successful. We were expecting around 30 or 40 people, but at least 80 showed up," said Kased. "We got a beautiful weekend for it too."
He was also impressed with the new faces the event brought in.
"Mostly Indian students came, but others showed up who weren't even involved in the clubs. It was great to see new involvement," he said. "At ten we got back together for the laser light show (at Darien Lake), and everyone was waving their hands in unison. It was a great moment."
The Muslim SA also held a prayer service and speech on Friday in 210 Student Union that brought light to the issue of divisions between countries and cultures.
Dr. Othman Shibly, senior resident associate of Periodontics and Endodontics and director of International Scholars, made a guest speech about the current state of conflict in the world.
"I was impressed with the speech," said Hyder Hussain, executive advisor for the Muslim Student Association. "He touched on the conflict in the Middle East, and brought up the idea that all countries have to get together and sacrifice something for peace."
"There was a good showing of unity on Friday, a great beginning to the year," Jacobs said. "Every group was showing themselves in a positive way, leaving the politics at the door."
"There's football, food, fun stuff going on. Different people coming together," said Dela Yador, senior commerce major and Student Association vice president, at Sunday's picnic. "You look around and you see everyone here -- black, Hispanic, Muslim, Jewish. It's a cool thing."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
