AU students react to tragedy (Sept. 12, 2001)

Hundreds of AU students, combined with staff and faculty, sat silently captivated by the television in the mailroom; they were hearing the latest breaking news on CNN early yesterday, Sept. 11, 2001, a day which will surely go down in history.
Murmurs throughout the day were heard in all crowds of people around campus who wanted to call friends and family, even acquaintances, in New York City, the site of what used to be the twin towers of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan.
Regardless of where students were when they heard the news of the terrorist attacks, they were completely aghast. Those who cried in Powell Campus Center were hugged and comforted by friends. Gasps were heard as students watched one live TV the second of the twin towers implode.
The sight of the Pentagon engulfed in flames and the billowing smoke from the WTC brought sophomore Kelli Fogg to ask, “What about all the firemen there?” Her concern is real, and she even admitted it was a bit eerie; seconds later, CNN flashed a scenes of firemen and policemen running.
Along with stifled sniffles, those gasps were about the only thing heard on the bottom floor of Powell early yesterday morning. But emotions weren’t all peaceful as someone cried out obscenities as a photo of President George W. Bush was broadcast.
The President decided to cut his visit to a Florida elementary school short and declare an “apparent terrorist attack.” Also mentioned around the same time was the fact that Secretary Colin Powell was cutting his trip, to Lima, Peru, short as well.
“I was just so shocked,” said sophomore Amy Yachup, who was watching the news on the big screen in Nevins Theater: Suddenly, her attention focused on the screen, as they were replaying the video of the second airplane crashing into the south tower of the WTC.
Brooklyn native Adriaan Doering-Dorvial wiped his eyes as the scenes were being shown on CNN. ‘Now I am really concerned,” he stated. Doering-Dorival commented that his family was near the site if the crashes.
Counselors from the psychological services on campus were available in several locations in Alfred yesterday, dealing with what CNN call “America Under Attack.”
After hearing that this event has been referred to as the second Pearl Harbor, junior Andrea Sanyshyn stated, “We can read about Pearl Harbor over and over again, but now we know how the country felt. All I want to know is, why?”