September 13, 2002

At 8:46 a.m. on Sept. 11, 2001, the world stopped and watched in amazement as American Flight 11 crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center. Just 16 minutes later at 9:03 a.m., United Flight 175 crashed into the South Tower. Yet, the terrorist attacks continued and at 9:45 a.m. American Flight 77 plummeted into the Pentagon. By now, the airspace over New York had been closed.

Finally, the last terrorist attempt came to an end as United Flight 93 crashed into a wooded area in Pennsylvania. America was brought to its knees.

Citizens of New York and workers in the Pentagon ran for their lives as firefighters, police officers, and those brave enough to help flocked towards the damaged buildings. Closer to home, the students of Virginia Wesleyan College flocked to any available news outlet, clinging to the images of horror on the television screens. Others called family members, lovers and friends to see if they were safe or merely to tell them they loved them. As a result, President George Bush, Jr. declared war against those responsible for attacking our nation on Oct. 7, 2001.

Now, as the one-year remembrance of Sept. 11 passes us by one can't help but recall where they were and what they were doing when the hijackers crashed the planes into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and in rural Pennsylvania. With the site of the Towers gone from the skyline and an empty spot lies in downtown Manhattan, one cannot help but recall the terror and effects of those actions.

According to a CNN news report by Debra Feray, 2,801 people died in the World Trade Center attacks alone. 2,749 World Trade Death Certificates have been issued to date, as experts are still working to identify remains. These do not include those who perished in the Pentagon or in Pennsylvania. Yet, how are we dealing with the impact of knowing that this country will never be the same a year later? Some students feel that it is time to move on with our lives. "I think the intensity of feeling has worn off of the American public," said junior Brenda Adams. "We are going back to our own causal ways."

Many students echoed Adams' opinion, but felt that the media and Internet were the cause for their desire to get back to normal. "In my opinion, September 11 has been over-dramatized by the media," said sophomore Donna Noble. "I think it is time to move on." Sophomore Greg Jackson agrees, however, he feels "that the Internet has over-dramatized the event more than the media." Jackson says that information can be found all over the Internet about September 11 and sometimes, it's just too much.

Other students, however, are still strongly affected by the thought of September 11. "I feel very emotional even though I wasn't there because those people died for the wrong reasons," said senior Darsheen Smith. "Being in the media so much, it doesn't feel like it has been a year, it feels like it just happened." Still, others wonder will something like the events of September 11 happen again. "It makes me sad to think about," said freshman Jason Vann. "I still feel scared that something else is going to happen."

"It was really hard when it happened. It was a horrible, horrible, horrible event, but I was just kind of befuddled…to see such violence on the country," said Dr. Tom Faney, director of mathematics and the VWC PORTfolio Program. However, Faney, a practitioner of nonviolence, does find some positive from the acts of Sept. 11.

"It (Sept. 11) more or less reinforced my views. I support nonviolence, but it's easy for me to talk about nonviolence. Someone needs to say stop and not retaliate. It's time to turn the other cheek." So how do people feel September 11 should be remembered? "September 11 should be a day of remembrance," said junior Josh Masse. "It shouldn't be an ordinary day where people go to work and classes." However, some look upon the day as a learning experience.

"I try to use September 11 as a reminder to embrace joy," said Dr. Sally Shedd. "I feel like I owe to it everyone who died or suffered some sort of loss. Instead of a license to wallow in some sort of pity, I try to let it awaken me to happiness." So how are faculty and students trying to get back to normal? What are we doing as a society to carry on the memory of our fellow citizens? Dr. Rita Frank has tried to look for the positive in the event instead of the horror it produced. "I've really focused on the aftermath of the event instead of the horror of what actually happened. Every life that was lost really counted and everyone came together as a nation and lived our ideals for that time. So now I'm trying to keep those values alive in how I relate to students, what I teach, how I service the community, and how I treat my family."

Still, others are worried about the political implications of Sept. 11. "Right now, I'm worried about the political legacy of 9/11," said Communications Professor, Dr. Stuart Minnis. "I was generally in favor of the Afghanistan action, but now I'm very much against the Bush's Administration's unilateral movement towards Iraq, and I see the Administration using 9/11 as some sort of peripheral justification for that action." Despite the politics of Sept. 11, this tragic event showed many students and faculty that we can still come together, despite our differences, in a time of need. Just two days after the attacks, the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom hosted an Interfaith Prayers for Peace Service in response to Sept. 11. Ms. Kelly Jackson, an administrative assistant in the Center for the Study of Religious Freedom witnessed a profound connection at the interfaith service.

"At the service, a Muslim woman approached Dr. Cookson and me to tell us about a phone call she had received," said Jackson. "This woman, a deeply faithful leader in her faith community, had previously served on a panel for a Center program titled, ‘Voices of Women in Religion: Our Journeys to Leadership.' Also serving on that panel was a Pagan woman. After 9/11, when so many Muslims were fearful for their safety, the Pagan woman called the Muslim woman and offered her and her family sanctuary at the Pagan camping and meeting grounds in rural Isle of Wight County. In spite of their profound religious differences, these women connected through love. Since 9/11, I am so much more aware of the need to bring people of different faiths together so that we can all learn to love and respect each another, no matter how differently we may worship."

Despite the mixed emotion surrounding the anniversary of September 11, it will be an event that will stay on the minds of Americans for a lifetime. We banded together as a nation and a college one year ago when this tragedy occurred, and we will come together again to remember those who were lost and those who fought to rescue and restore our fallen to their loved ones.

"Cindy offered to do something recreational for our students and at the same time we were thinking of reaching out more with our alumni," director of the ASP, Dr. Kate Loring said. With the 20th anniversary upon them, the ASP staff decided it would be a perfect time for the event.

"Most of our alumni haven't seen the Batten Center – or our new office for that matter," Loring said. Many of the current adult studies students have not used the Center either because they must pay for access per semester. “They may see it as an opportunity to try out the pool and the rock climbing," Loring said.

In addition to the recreational activities, those attending will have a chance to meet or reunite with the ASP's first director, Dot Hinman. Hinman directed the program from 1984 until she retired in 1996. “She was beloved," said Loring. "There are a lot of former faculty, staff, and alumni that want to see her." Loring took over Hinman's position as she was leaving in 1996. Since her start as director, Loring has seen the program improve and expand through advancements in technology, change of location, and by providing new services.

With a new computer system, the office is able to add students to the college system and even register them for classes. MARSIS also helps by providing their students with more access to information, their own records, and allowing them to do things for themselves. The change of office location has also proved beneficial to the program. Before the move to Clarke in 1998, the ASP was located near the atrium in Blocker.

"I think moving to [Clarke] has made us be and feel much more a part of the college, much more central," Loring said. "It felt very much like a separate program before." The ASP staff works hard to accommodate the needs of their students. Most of the classes are scheduled at night, with some meeting on the weekends. The office provides services such as academic advising, selling parking passes, and having access to students' business accounts.

Childcare is also now available for ASP students. Organized by day student Jeff Bradford for his community service project, childcare is offered by six women students Monday through Thursday evenings. Only one ASP student is taking advantage of the service now but Loring sees the potential for growth. "I do see an opportunity for that to grow. I really hope it takes off," she said.

The ASP staff also tries to be advocates for their students at the college and works with other offices to help students fulfill their needs. "I think in general we're pleased with the cooperation we get from other offices on campus," Loring said. With the new changes and advocacy the ASP office provides, she believes students feel more a part of the college and much more comfortable with the campus. This offers them the opportunity to alleviate some stress and to concentrate more on their studies.

"An obvious challenge is juggling too many things in one life," Loring said of the typical ASP student. A typical ASP student is at least 23 and works full time. Most students have families and are returning to college to earn a degree in one of four offered by the program. Of the 302 enrolled, 295 are part-time students and only 7 attend college full-time. The average course load is 2 classes per semester. Loring is amazed that the students can work all day, take care of their families, and then be charged up enough for school at night. "I think just from my point of view, our students as a group are remarkable when you think of everything they do at once," Loring said.

Exchange student Kerstin Ringelhan from Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany, will be spending the fall semester studying at Virginia Wesleyan. Ringelhan, 21, was born in Berlin and has a 19-year-old brother. In 2001, she came to America for the first time on a visit to see her brother who was participating in an exchange student program in Mississippi. Ringelhan hopes that during this second trip to the States she will be able to see more of the country.

"I would love to see cities like Baltimore, Washington D.C., and New York," she said. Her only true United States city experience could hardly be called that. "I have been to Boston, but only for a six hour layover,” she said. “A couple I met on the airplane gave me a quick tour."

Ringelhan said that she is enjoying the differences between Virginia Wesleyan's small college community and Humboldt University's 35,000 student body. Virginia Wesleyan's size was the main reason Ringelhan chose the college over larger schools such as Georgetown, Duke, and Brown who were also participating in the exchange program. "I wanted to go to a smaller school because I thought it would be easier to make friends and the teachers would be more accessible," she said.

It looks like Ringelhan was right in her thinking as she said, "I really like it here." Ringelhan is also enjoying the new experience of dorm life in Johnston, the international hall. Humboldt University, the oldest university in Berlin, does not provide residence halls for students, so they all commute from home. Ringelhan is majoring in English with future plans of becoming an English teacher. A student of the English language for about nine years, Ringelhan is not only fluent in German and English, but has studied Latin for nine years, French for seven years, and is beginning to study Spanish here at Virginia Wesleyan.

Ringelhan frequently puts her knowledge of languages to use by traveling whenever possible. She has been all around Europe, and especially likes England, where she spent several months working as an au pair before returning home to Berlin where she worked as a waitress. In her leisure time, Ringelhan enjoys playing and watching various types of sports. She especially likes tennis, and belongs to a tennis club in Berlin "I would like to play on the team here," she said, "and the coach has already invited me to the practice."

Although Ringelhan is enjoying her time in America, she does admit to missing her family and friends, especially her best friend from home who is participating in a similar exchange program in Briston, England. Ringelhan's stay at Wesleyan marks the first time that the college Wesleyan has participated in the exchange program with Humboldt University. According to this specialized exchange program, Humboldt will be sending only students from the American Studies department, and VWC will be sending only students who are German majors or are fluent in the language. Ringelhan and another student from Berlin, Nico Laubisch, are both attending the fall semester at Virginia Wesleyan, while Ben Seidl studies in their place at Humboldt University.

An International Student Welcoming Reception was held Thursday in the Alumni Galleria and gave Virginia Wesleyan students and staff the opportunity to meet Kerstin, Nico and the other international students.

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