Remembering 9/11
McLean Bennett
Issue date: 9/11/08 Section: News
Students might notice something a bit out of the ordinary on the Campus Mall today - about 3,000 miniature U.S. flags.
The College Republicans staked 2,977 tiny ensigns into the mall this morning to mark each death caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It's the third year in a row that the organization has decorated the campus for the event.
"Usually it takes an hour-and-a-half, two hours to (place the flags)," said junior Bobby Hamill, chairperson of the College Republicans.
"I think it's important just to take that amount of time so that people don't forget about 9/11," he added. "Otherwise it could go by without anybody even thinking about it, which is something we don't want to have happen."
And the organization's approach to reminding people about the attacks seems to be working. Several students said they remembered last year's display and that it served as a healthy reminder of the day's importance.
"It was kind of amazing how just some flags in the ground can spark all those memories," sophomore Jim Schadeberg said. "It really was pretty powerful."
Sophomore Megan Borreson was also impressed.
"Everybody thinks, 'Oh, 2,000 people; that's like a small town,'" she said. "But when they set it all out, that's a number that everybody can identify with."
College Republicans volunteers will also pass out 9/11 buttons, posters and information on the Campus Mall today. The materials were provided by the Young America's Foundation, a national conservative organization that promotes similar 9/11 memorials on other college campuses. In the future, Hamill said he hopes to incorporate speakers into the on-campus memorial.
The University Activities Commission Films Committee will mark the anniversary of the attacks in a more subtle way; the committee decided last semester to show the 2007 Adam Sandler film "Reign Over Me" beginning today in Davies Theatre. The film is loosely based on the 9/11 attacks.
"They thought it would be a good time to show it," Student Activities Coordinator Jim Brockpahler said. "They wanted to get it in the series, and then it made sense to put it in this weekend as well."
Sophomore College Democrats president Paydon Miller said his organization will commemorate the attacks with a moment of silence tonight at its 5 p.m. meeting in Hibbard 101. Miller said all students are welcome to attend.
The meeting will also feature a short speech by Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, who will speak briefly about the attacks.
"We want to be sure that we understand that this is a strong democratic country that can keep us secure," Smith said, "but at the same time, on that particular day, we really need to be respectful of those that have lost their lives and to families that have lost loved ones for the cause of democracy."
The College Republicans staked 2,977 tiny ensigns into the mall this morning to mark each death caused by the 9/11 terrorist attacks. It's the third year in a row that the organization has decorated the campus for the event.
"Usually it takes an hour-and-a-half, two hours to (place the flags)," said junior Bobby Hamill, chairperson of the College Republicans.
"I think it's important just to take that amount of time so that people don't forget about 9/11," he added. "Otherwise it could go by without anybody even thinking about it, which is something we don't want to have happen."
And the organization's approach to reminding people about the attacks seems to be working. Several students said they remembered last year's display and that it served as a healthy reminder of the day's importance.
"It was kind of amazing how just some flags in the ground can spark all those memories," sophomore Jim Schadeberg said. "It really was pretty powerful."
Sophomore Megan Borreson was also impressed.
"Everybody thinks, 'Oh, 2,000 people; that's like a small town,'" she said. "But when they set it all out, that's a number that everybody can identify with."
College Republicans volunteers will also pass out 9/11 buttons, posters and information on the Campus Mall today. The materials were provided by the Young America's Foundation, a national conservative organization that promotes similar 9/11 memorials on other college campuses. In the future, Hamill said he hopes to incorporate speakers into the on-campus memorial.
The University Activities Commission Films Committee will mark the anniversary of the attacks in a more subtle way; the committee decided last semester to show the 2007 Adam Sandler film "Reign Over Me" beginning today in Davies Theatre. The film is loosely based on the 9/11 attacks.
"They thought it would be a good time to show it," Student Activities Coordinator Jim Brockpahler said. "They wanted to get it in the series, and then it made sense to put it in this weekend as well."
Sophomore College Democrats president Paydon Miller said his organization will commemorate the attacks with a moment of silence tonight at its 5 p.m. meeting in Hibbard 101. Miller said all students are welcome to attend.
The meeting will also feature a short speech by Rep. Jeff Smith, D-Eau Claire, who will speak briefly about the attacks.
"We want to be sure that we understand that this is a strong democratic country that can keep us secure," Smith said, "but at the same time, on that particular day, we really need to be respectful of those that have lost their lives and to families that have lost loved ones for the cause of democracy."
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Dan S.
posted 9/11/08 @ 11:59 AM CST
"Bobby Hamill, chairperson"
Isn't Bobby a boy's name? It's not like Chris or Pat where we just don't know and are forced into using a gender-neutral label. (Continued…)
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