Creighton commemorates tragedy

Hilda Akati, Business sophomore, sits near the fountain in front of St. John's church during the prayer service on Monday. More than 100 students, faculty and staff members attended.

By BETH COSTIGAN
Reporter

Tagged “Patriot’s Day” on calendars nationwide, Sept. 11 always will be haunting to those who experienced it.

Andrew Spaulding, Arts & Sciences senior, said he remembered watching the second plane hit the World Trade Center in a high school speech class, thinking that he was watching a movie.

“It has changed me in the way that it has changed everyone,” Spaulding said. “I saw my war veteran math teacher display emotions that I hope never to see again.”

The fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks was commemorated Monday with a series of events hosted by Creighton Students Union.

Instructors in 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. classes were asked to announce the exact time of the tragedy, followed by a moment of silence, while St. John’s Church bells rang.

Some instructors began class by reflecting on the day’s importance.

Jeff Streff, Arts & Sciences freshman, said the discussion at the beginning of the day motivated him to attend the 12:30 p.m. prayer service on the steps of St. John’s Church. A group of 100 students, faculty and media from the Omaha community gathered to pray and remember.

Other teachers made no reference to the significance of the day.

Business senior Zach Kruse said that Monday seemed like any other day, and that he wished that there was more of an emphasis on 9/11 in the classroom.

Lauren Urban, Arts & Sciences graduate student, attended the prayer service, Faith and Pasta and the CSU discussion panel.

“[It is important] to reflect on what has happened … how we as a nation have changed, but how I as a person have changed. My state of mind has changed with the loss of our nation’s innocence,” she said.

Urban said Faith and Pasta was her favorite event. Discussion centered around the influence of faith on world violence and how a solution can be reached.

The CSU discussion panel focused on how understanding cultures is the key to changing the world.

The panel included Dr. Michael Miller of the Law School; Dr. Barbara Harris, professor of social work; and Jamil Neme, Arts & Sciences senior.

The discussion was moderated by Professor Christine Wiseman, vice president of Academic Affairs.

Harris said the goal for Creighton classrooms is to have a cultural sensitivity with free and open conversation.

“Respect is everything,” he said.

Thirteen people attended the discussion.

“I was disappointed in the turnout tonight,” said CSU President Eric Nitz. “This is our global world. We need to learn how to interact with it.”

Nitz said students should not forget how essential culture is and realize how irreplaceable these events are.

“Culture will carry you further,” he said.

Urban reflected on the devastating day five years ago.

“It was an overwhelming feeling that the world was changing, and there was nothing that I could do to stop it,” she said.

Urban said that she has since witnessed America prolong the pain of the attack to create more violence.

“American life has been shaken by that day,” Spaulding said. “Now we have to shake our government and political policy.”