It was another beautiful day at Furman University when a plane hovered over North Village. The sound of propellers came closer, deafening anyone around North Village E. My heart raced and my head pounded as I struggled to find shelter in my apartment. The fear of being powerless washed over me as I pushed my hands against my ears trying so desperately to block out the propeller sound. I exhaled, momentarily embracing my potential last breathing moment, before the propellers drifted further, safely distant as they should be. I slowly stood up, alone, legs shaking, cheeks flushed. I was reminiscent of that regretful day, where nothing could be explained, and the whole city was covered in remnants of hard work, dreams and dust
It was an honest, average New York reaction to what people 13 years before would have considered highly irrational. 9/11 is a tricky day to remember, not only because of the horrible deaths and suffering the United States went through but because there is no appropriate, easy protocol to deal with such a tragedy. People are hesitant to recreate those memories.
There are organizations and faculty members, however, who do their best to remember the event. In 2011, Furman’s Office of Marketing and Public Relations, came out with an article comprised of personal recounts, “reflections and reminiscences” from Furman alumni considering 9/11. Dr. Armstrong’s Spring 2014 Introduction to Mass Communication class, observed a short clip from the David Letterman show in 2002, commemorating the 9/11 anniversary.
Yet these are one-time events. They beg the question, then, how much, really, is Furman doing in remembrance of this tragic day. Better yet, should we as students, completely expect the faculty to be responsible for memorials or events? As sophomore Cat McNeela explains, “There should at least be an hour of silence or a CLP to commemorate the losses, which holds true for so many students.” Raised in Connecticut, Cat notes having close and personal connections to some that passed. If students like Cat were affected by the event, there should be an effort by the students as well to, at the very least, take a moment of silence, just to remember. When anniversaries of the event come around, it should be more recognized with something as simple as a 30-minute video, or a CLP. So this upcoming week, when you are stressing about school or the future, take a moment to remember those that have passed, and whose families are still affected by this disaster all around the country.