Vanderbilt remembers Sept. 11 with memorials, music and messages of hope

by Jessica Howard

From a solemn flag-lowering ceremony to hanging heartfelt messages on a "Remembrance Tree," the Vanderbilt community found many ways to pay tribute to those killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks of last year.

The University coordinated "A Day of Hope and Remembrance," offering the public several free events to reflect upon the one-year anniversary of the attacks.

The day's events began early in the morning as students and other members of the Vanderbilt community gathered quietly on Alumni Lawn. Musicians from the Blair School of Music played Aaron Copeland's "Fanfare for the Common Man" as a representative from each of the nation's military services marched toward the flagpole while a crowd of nearly 500 stood in silence. The flag was lowered to half-staff as the bell in Kirkland Hall tolled at 7:46 a.m., the moment the first plane struck Tower One of the World Trade Center one year ago.

A small "Flame of Hope" contained in a stone-filled vessel burned below the "Remembrance Tree," where, like one year ago, pieces of cloth and pens were made available to those who wished to write messages and place them on the tree. The flame continued to burn throughout the day.

Chancellor Gordon Gee called upon the Vanderbilt community to "use the University as a site of your reflection upon this day" during a brief address to some 250 attendees of a special "World on Wednesdays." The noon forum was held on Rand Terrace, also featuring Professor of Philosophy Lucius Outlaw, SGA President Samar Ali and sophomore Jessica Hayden, a New York native. The Swinging 'Dores and the Dodecs gave moving a capella performances at the event.

"If we do not reflect, if we do not employ our reasoning and our knowledge, we have failed," Gee said.

Following Gee was Outlaw, who, after requesting a moment of silence, implored the crowd to become critical patriots who both judge and celebrate the country.

"I urge you further to help ... to become better citizens ... to make better partnerships with others on this planet," Outlaw said.

Ali, the University's first Arab-American Muslim president of the SGA, reflected upon her initial reaction to the attacks.

"As the planes crashed, the world paused and we at Vanderbilt paused with it," she said. "I'm still mourning with the rest of the nation."

Ali asked attendees to be intolerant of injustices, and applauded the "Hate: Not in My Community" campaign and similar on-campus initiatives aimed at eradicating intolerance.

Hayden, from Queens, N.Y., was one of the 40-plus students who traveled to home the weekend after the attacks on buses provided by Vanderbilt.

"All I saw was a cloud of smoke," she said as the buses entered New York City. "This has taught me to live life to the fullest."

The microphone was opened to anyone interested in addressing the crowd. One staff member told of the death of his cousin who worked at the Pentagon. A student read an essay that he wrote after Sept. 11. Another student told attendees to exercise their right to vote, and a student of Pakistani descent thanked the University for providing her with "massive support."

Other events planned throughout the day included a campus-wide multicultural "Service for Peaceful Tomorrows" featuring poetry readings and music. A panel discussion with faculty members titled "9-11 Perspectives: A Year Later" was scheduled from 5:30 to 7 p.m. in the Sarratt Cinema. At midnight, the SGA arranged for students to return the American flag to full-staff.