Carolyn Carpenter of Canada remembers where she was when she first heard about the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11. She was in the common area at The University of Toronto and thought that it was a joke. She said it was like something from a movie.
University of Memphis sophomore Melanie Cleveland was on her way to class and remembers feeling frightened and uncertain because she has friends and family in New York.
“I couldn’t get through to New York for three or four days,” Cleveland said. “It was pretty rough not knowing who was ok and who wasn’t.”
U of M junior Rose Newton remembers watching the news for days after the attacks.
These three students were among the 30 students who attended the Sept. 11 Reflection Roundtable yesterday in the lobby of the University Center.
“The main purpose of the roundtable discussion was to allow students to share and express their feelings and emotions about Sept.11,” said Laura Pevahouse, student government association president.
Most of the students who attended the roundtable discussion could remember where they were and what they were doing when they first heard about the terrorist attacks.
“This is the most significant event of our generation,” one student in attendance said. “I’ll probably never forget that day.”
“If you don’t have family or know people who died in the Pentagon or New York, then you tend to forget,” said Newton. “If you go home and all of your family members are still there, it’s not the same.
“My stepfather flies black hawks, and he had to go to Afghanistan. He was there for seven months and came back about three weeks ago. After he left, it became more personal for me.”
Some students expressed fear for their well-being instead of fear for family members.
One student said that he was afraid when students at his high school mistook him for a Muslim and threatened one of his Arabic friends.
“Two Caucasian guys pulled up to him in their car and threatened him, and I had to explain to this guy that I was Hispanic, not Arabic,” the student said.
The Sept. 11 Reflection Roundtable was sponsored by the Student Government Association and Honor Student Council.
