AU students and faculty remembered the events of Sept. 11, 2001, with an outdoor vigil at AU's Sept. 11 memorial circle Monday evening, featuring speakers and representatives from the campus interfaith community.
Joellen Kriss, a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, said she came to the event looking for a sense of community. She is from Rockville Centre, NY, a Long Island town that was home to many people lost in the tragedy.
"Most people don't get it," Kriss said. "It doesn't really hit you until you know people who died. A man who used to buy Girl Scout cookies from me died."
The College Democrats and the College Republicans co-sponsored the event. College Republicans President John Zevitas emphasized the importance of the groups coming together.
"This event is about unity, not political divides," Zevitas said. "We need to set aside our differences to honor those who lost their lives."
"This event is for the campus to come together as a community," said Clare Allenson, president of the College Democrats. "It is a time for reflection, not debate."
The ceremony crossed regional divides as students from all over the country joined in singing "America the Beautiful" at the ceremony's opening. Lyndsey Hall, a freshman in the School of Communication, said she remembered the impact of Sept. 11 on her Florida community.
"I was sitting in history class, and a student was running through the hallway yelling that the twin towers had been hit by a plane," Hall said. "My teacher turned on the television and we saw the first tower fall."
Speakers at the event included Student Government President Ashley Mushnick, Interim President Neil Kerwin and campus representatives from six faiths, including the Jewish, Methodist, SGI Buddhist and Hindu/Vedic chaplains as well as Muslim and Catholic representatives.
The speakers' topics varied, from Kerwin's thoughts about the danger of ignorance to the Rev. Lawrence Young's advice to put trust in God, but all the speeches shared the common theme of unity.
"People are called to come together and embrace love," said the Rev. Mark Schaefer, AU's Methodist chaplain. "Out of love comes justice, compassion, mercy and understanding."
Kriss said she thought the ceremony could have been more effective.
"I didn't feel like the leaders of the event understood or had personal connections, so the ceremony didn't move me as much as I expected," she said.
Justin Musumeci, a freshman in CAS who is from Manhattan, said the event was a good way of remembering with others who experienced Sept. 11. He said he came to the vigil because he thought it was important to honor those who died.
The idea of unity was the purpose of the event, according to Will Haun, vice president of the College Republicans.
"We wanted this to be a solemn event and play up the things that students on this campus have in common," Haun said.
The ceremony ended as students lined up to place American flags at the base of the Sept. 11 memorial, near the Kogod School of Business building.
