Students from various cultural and religious backgrounds came together on the evening of Sept. 11 in front of the administration building for a candlelight vigil to commemorate the lives of those who perished in the terrorist attack one year earlier.
The event was facilitated by Tim Luke, director of the Baptist Student Union, but it was planned and executed by student members of various religious life houses. The student contributions made the event special, Luke said.
SGA president Laura Pevahouse agreed.
“I’m glad it was students’ work and not something put on by SGA or U of M staff, but by different students from groups coming together and planning it,” Pevahouse said. “The fact that religious life put it on gave the event special meaning.”
Richard Griffith, director of the University Catholic Student Center, said that he oversees all Catholic organizations on all the different campuses in Memphis and because of that attended six different ceremonies on various campuses. He said that the most meaningful aspect of the U of M’s candlelight vigil was that it was student-executed.
“It was the most diverse and complete ceremony,” Griffith said. “It was especially meaningful to see Muslims, Christians and Jews all represented.
“In this time of war, we need to be one. I saw people joining hands, and I think the ceremony unified The University. It touched my soul.”
Members of different religious life houses participated in the event in unique ways. Anna Johnson, president of the Jewish Student Union, sang a Hebrew song based on Psalm 113 as a message of peace and unity.
“I only hope that the students who are here can take away the message of peace and tolerance and incorporate it into our lives,” Johnson said.
Clair Sumrall and Laura Prudhomme, members of the Baptist Student Union, performed a dance routine Sumrall described as a theme interpretation of the Christian hymn, “Take My Life.”
“It was an enriching experience to come together, celebrate and reflect in order to create something better from our experiences,” Sumrall said.
Two members of the Muslim Student Association shared their experiences as minorities and newcomers to America and the prejudices members of their culture experienced directly following the events of Sept. 11.
Sechrish Siddique told the crowd a story of a Muslim man who participated in the relief efforts at ground zero and was killed in the rubble. The same man showed up on the FBI most wanted list erroneously. Nabil Bayakly, director of the Muslim Student Association, said this story is only one example of events that occur to members of his community.
“This is the plight of Islam,” Bayakly said. “We try to do our best, and we are being persecuted.
“Our civil liberties have been taken away. The Muslim students gave the event reality as to how they feel they are perceived. Their speeches showed how Muslims are living their lives now.”
Mothanna Haimed, member of the Muslim Student Association, also spoke at the vigil about his experiences as a new immigrant to America.
“As a Muslim immigrant, my dream was to live in the liberty land,” Haimed said in his speech. “All of a sudden, I felt like I was in a nightmare.”
Haimed said he intended his speech to urge people to judge people for who they are, not for their ethnic background.
“Judge me for my deeds, not for someone else’s,” Haimed said. “I’m not going to judge anyone else for anything except for who they are.”
Regarding the amount of prejudice he has experienced since Sept. 11, Haimed said it is getting better.
“It meant a lot to share together with everyone in attendance,” Haimed said.
More than 300 people attended the vigil, Luke said. The effect of everyone coming together was a meaningful one for Will McKay, member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministry.
“The most meaningful part for me was seeing the beauty of God’s creation on each face and different cultures coming together,” McKay said. “It was beautiful to see all the different people God created.”
Elena Garner, director of the Jewish Student Union, was also impressed by the diversity of the students who attended.
“It was an amazing thing to see our communities come together to commemorate a moment that was meant to divide us, but in the end has proven to only draw us closer to one another,” Garner said.
The event, which began with comments by President Shirley Raines, was filled with inspiring and meaningful thoughts and reflections from members of different religious backgrounds. Although the individuals were unique, the messages contained a common idea. Micah Charyn, member of the Jewish Student Union, concluded his speech with words that rang true to many of the gathered people.
“No matter the evil in the world, not matter the people who wish to destroy what is good, none of that can ever tear down or erase what those American heroes of 9/11 did,” she said. “They showed us that evil will not change the liberty of America-and that through courage and hope. As a nation, we will continually shine.”
