by Will Kaback ’20, Editor-in-Chief

17 years ago, on Sept. 11, 2011, the United States suffered the loss of nearly 3,000 of its people as a result of acts of terror and cowardice. At Hamilton, campus life ground to a halt as students, professors, administrators, and other community members watched in horror as the day’s events unfolded. The Sept. 14, 2001 issue of

The Spectator

dedicated 8 of its pages to covering the attacks and their aftermath. Here is a sample of what was said in that issue, re-printed here in hopes that it can offer a unique perspective on the effect of that day in our community.

FORUM ADDRESSES DANGERS IN STEREOTYPING

(by Sarah Karalunas ’04)

“A panel of five Hamilton faculty members addressed students in the chapel Thursday night, hoping to combat what they see as a growing anti-Arab, anti-Muslim sentiment in the United States by providing historical, religious, and political context for the recent events. […]

“All of the professors on the panel explained that they wanted to encourage students to be more careful in assigning blame. ‘Acting out of gut feeling will only make this tragedy worse,’ said [Professor of History Shoshana Keller].

“Other students called for more peaceful resolutions. One student asked, ‘If we

are really a democratic, free nation and democracy and a free press are prerequisites for non-violence, isn’t a non-violent response best?’ […]

“Alex Popoff ’02 expressed concern that Americans would lose some of their

basic freedoms because of this event.

“Professor of Government Stephen Orvis acknowledged that there was a possi-

bility that Americans would lose some rights. He stressed that it is up to the American people to resist. ‘We have to decide for ourselves what our rights and freedoms are going to be. That’s what having a democracy and a free society is about,’ said Orvis.”

EDITORIAL

(by

The Spectator

Editorial Staff)

“Let’s make sure that acts of hatred based on race do not occur here at Ham-

ilton. Anyone with half a brain, which should apply to everyone here on the Hill, must realize that no one here, regardless of heritage, race, or religion, condones the cowardly attack on innocent civilians. It’s no secret that Hamilton has had its problems with incidents of racism and discrimination in the past, but now, more than ever, is our chance as a campus to redeem ourselves. Let’s show how compassionate and tolerant of a campus we really are and help erase the memories of incidents of bigotry and stupidity. […]

“Now is a time to unite, not divide.”

HAM STUDENT IN D.C. RESPONDS TO ATTACK

(by Krystyn Schmerbeck

’02)

“At midnight on September 11, my five roommates came in and sang ‘Happy

Birthday’ to me. I was so excited then to be turning 21 in our nation’s capital with a group of new friends and hopes for an exciting semester. Just nine hours later, as I was sitting at my desk in the offices of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, the tragedy began. […]

“[My roommates and I] were the first to arrive back at the dorm, and we waited anxiously for the rest of our group to return from the Capitol. We attempted to contact our families and our professor as we watched in horror the collapse of the World Trade Center towers and the fire at the Pentagon. As the day continued, everyone returned safely to our dorm, some students having walked for an hour and a half due to closures of the metro rail. We joined together as a group while each of us waited to make sure that loved ones in the New york City area were safe and sound.

“One of my greatest fears is that the panic of American people the concerns

of our highest government officials will lead to the creation of implicit internment camps of anyone who happens to have a similar heritage as the terrorists did. This response is exactly what terrorists are seeking to achieve. They want to show that America is a nonsensical government and that our principles of freedom and equality are simply idyllic notions that can never be achieved. Do not feed into the intentions of those who planned and executed these gruesome attacks.”

STUDENTS FROM NYC PROGRAM RETURNING TO HILL

(by Christopher

LaRosa ’03)

“Many unsuspecting students walked into their 10:30 classes and were faced

with images of the Twin Towers crumbling and Manhattan hidden behind plumes of smoke.

“‘I taught a class from 9:00 until 10:15 where we were discussing the role of a

free press in a democratic society…In a class in which we thought everything was fine, the world was falling around us,’ said Associate Professor of Rhetoric and Communication Catharine Kaha.

“Kaha, along with many students on campus, began watching the coverage

around the time of the second tower collapse.

“Dean of Faculty David Paris issued a campus-wide email encouraging profes-

sors to use regular class time to discuss the unfolding events with students. While the college did not officially suspend class, many teachers chose not to hold regular classes and instead let students go early or had them discuss the unfolding events.

“Televisions were brought to dining halls, Beinecke, and Cafe Opus. At these

locations people packed shoulder to shoulder, waiting for developments in the seemingly unreal turn of events.

“Community members focused attention on loved ones,

friends, and students in the Hamilton Program in New York City. Jammed cellular networks and telephone networks made contacting family members a near impossibility for students. The college was not able to verify the whereabout and safety of all students in the New York program until after 5 p.m. on Tuesday. […]

“‘I was on my way to my internship on 2nd street and 1st Avenue…I saw the top of the first tower burning,’ said Rick Colon ’03, a student in the Hamilton program in NYC. […]

“Students [in the NYC program] found initial lodging with family, friends, and alumni. All students enrolled in the program are scheduled to return to the Hill this Saturday and will live in the Bristol guest rooms.

“[Senior Associate Dean of Students] Nancy Thompson said the college planned to bring students back to the Hill to offer counseling services, to regroup the program members, and to determine a plan for the rest of the semester, based on how events unfold.”

CANDLELIGHT SERVICE HELD ON MARTIN’S WAY

(by Christopher LaRosa ’03)

“A series of afternoon gathering in the chapel have kept students informed of news relating to the Hamilton community and counseling options for those in need of help.

“Community members have also been meeting daily at 4 p.m. on the map on Martin’s Way to join in prayer.

“Wednesday evening several hundred community members gathered next to Beinecke for a candlelight vigil. Conversation hushed as participants spread flames from one candle to the next. Occasional sobs were the only audible noise. […]

“As community members pushed candles into the sand, the silence was broken by spontaneous singing of patriotic song such as ‘God Bless America,’ ‘America’, and ‘America the Beautiful.’

“Dean of Students Nancy Thompson was pleased at the support community members are offering to each other in the face of enormous hardship.

“‘I’m really proud of our community,’ she said.”