Student reactions mixed to World Trade Center, Pentagon attacks
Life came to a standstill Tuesday for many of Utah State University students as news of the World Trade Center disaster, as well as the airliner crash at the Pentagon, was broadcast non-stop on television and radio.
More than 400 people were gathered around television screens in the Taggart Student Center first floor. With eyes riveted to the broadcasts, students conversed and commented one to another, often in low tones of disbelief.
Approximately 120 people watched a big screen television waiting for the latest news in the Sunburst Lounge.
“Everybody is so confused,” said Peter Mackinnon, a junior from South Africa, majoring in wildlife biology. “I found out at about 7:30 this morning.”
American Airlines flights 11 Boston-Los Angeles and 77 Washington, D.C. Dulles-Los Angeles were confirmed to have gone down losing 150 passengers. United Airlines confirmed losing flights 93 Newark-San Francisco and 175 Boston-Los Angeles totaling 110 lost passengers.
Tuesday’s events caused a rush on all forms of communication.
“I tried to get on any news Web site and couldn’t,” said Travis Hartwell, a senior majoring in computer science. “There is congestion on the Internet.”
Some students have a direct link with victims of the disaster.
Tom Law, a sophomore majoring in business learned about the tragedy in his 7:30 a.m. accounting class.
“It’s amazing it was caught on camera and that someone would do that,” he said. “My girlfriend’s best friend works on the top floor and made it out before it fell.”
Nollie Haws, vice president of ASUSU Public Relations, learned about the airliner crash at the Pentagon from her sister-in-law who lives nearby.
“I was totally floored, totally floored,” Haws said. “I’m excited about the candlelight vigil.”
A candlelight vigil will take place Thursday at 8 p.m. in front of Old Main to remember the victims of Tuesday’s catastrophe.
“Students need a place to express their emotions,” Haws said. “Everyone can come together. The theme of the vigil is Tolerance and Peace. We have a chance to be a community. No matter what country you’re from, you are part of the USU community.”
President Kermit L. Hall, Vice President Pat Terrell, Student Body President Steve Palmer and H. Ross Peterson, a history professor, will speak at the vigil.
CNN reported the Twin Towers were valued at $400 million. Federal government buildings around the country were evacuated Tuesday as well as the Pentagon, the White House, the Capitol, the CIA and all other federal government buildings in the United States.