Students share thoughts on tragedy
by Chris Taylor, editor in chief

    The attacks that rocked New York Sept. 11 sent shockwaves that have extended all across the nation, even to TCC campuses.

    Students have been experiencing a wide range of emotions. Many teachers have allowed their classes to discuss the attacks in class.

    Most counselors agree that speaking about the attacks and the fear that goes along with them is the best possible solution.

    Students at TCC come in many sizes, shapes, ages and backgrounds, and each has a unique perspective on the situation.

    The emotions felt by the students can be shared by everyone, regardless of the campus they attend.

    On SE Campus, Judith Carrier, president, said, “ It’s just an American tragedy. What else is there to say? We’re all just pulling together to consider those whose needs must be enormous.”

    Catherine Nuttall is an exchange student on NE Campus. Originally from England, she has been in this area for four weeks.

    The attack took her completely by surprise because “it was so completely out of the blue.”

    Nuttall has noticed the local news programs usually focus on the D/FW area instead of globally.

    “The attack has brought an awareness that another could happen at any time,” she said.

    Nuttall disagrees with people who say that the United States is not very secure though.

    “Until I came to America, I had never seen police with guns before. But at the airport one of the first things I saw was an officer with a gun. That makes this nation seem very secure to me,” she said.

    NW student Courtney Bates said the attack opened a variety of emotions for her.

    “This event brought a lot of memories back to me from the Oklahoma City bombing, which took place when I was a resident there,” she said.

    Bates said she was upset with the footage of people celebrating the American tragedy.

    Another NW student also expressed her shock after learning of the events.

    “I was in shock when I heard what happened. When I saw all the damage on television, I had to wipe a tear from my eye,” Kari Furman said.

An    other aspect that will affect some TCC students is the recent call-up of military reservists.

    Bill Lace, executive assistant to the chancellor, said that federal law states that any students who are called into service be allowed to make up their school work after active duty.

    “If a faculty member or employee is a reservist and called into service, we would fill their space with other faculty or employees for that time.

    “We will look at each situation on a case-by-case basis, but no one will lose his or her job due to being called into service,” Lace said.

    Students who must take a leave from school for military duty are urged to inform their instructors as soon as possible.

    NE Campus adjunct professor Bill Ward is earning his doctorate at the University of Oklahoma and is doing his dissertation on terrorism.

    Ward says the situation on Sept. 11 cannot compare with any of the terrorist acts faced by other nations.

    “There has never been anything quite like this,” he said.

    Ward explained that terrorists like to “create an atmosphere of fear.”

    According to Ward, the terrorists like to have a target audience to receive their violent statements.

    In this case, the American public is the target audience, Ward believes.

    “One of the main goals of the terrorists is to get authorities to overreact,” he said.

    Ward explains that while terrorism may seem random to an outside observer, there is a pattern to it. Ward thinks that the government’s response to the attack is the correct one.

    “Our leaders are correct in stressing calm in the aftermath of this tragedy. The natural human tendency is to want to strike back, but we must be very careful how we respond,” he said.

    Ward said that the attack was the main topic of his classes.

    He said that most of his students expressed shock and seemed stunned at the magnitude of the situation.

    Ward also wants to remind people to “remain calm and not give in to panic and fear.

    “Remember not every Arab is a terrorist,” he said.