Campus continues coping with tragedy, loss

by Sarah R. Buchholz, Chronicle staff

Ben Mathew, a first-year Mechanical Engineering student from Holliston, waited two and half hours to donate blood Sept. 17. Red Cross technician Sara Raymond, who drew Mathew's blood, said many potential donors had come forward since the Sept. 11 attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. (Sarah Buchholz photo)

Students attend the Sept. 14 memorial ceremony by the Campus Pond. (Stan Sherer photo)

he University has been a place of mourning since Sept. 11, as students and staff struggle to deal with the loss of life from plane hijackings and attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. It also has been an example of the sort of kindness and community that can characterize a campus at its best.

     One staff member, Christoffer Carstanjen, a computer research specialist at OIT, and at least five alumni died in the day's violence. Students and staff huddled around televisions all over campus, watching the events unfold. At least 4,000 came together at a candlelight vigil Sept. 11, and more than 5,000 turned out for a campus memorial service Sept. 14.

     Parking was free in the parking garage for both campus ceremonies; Earthfoods served free food on the day of the attacks; coffee urns and pastries appeared at no charge near gatherings of worried staff and students; the Faculty and Staff Assistance Program held support gatherings Sept. 12-14. The Student Government Association, faculty and Student Affairs staff went into overdrive to assist students in dealing with their grief, shock, and anger. The administration urged faculty to grant academic amnesty to students who missed classes between Sept. 11 and 18. An impromptu shrine honoring the memory of Carstanjen appeared in the south lobby of Lederle lowrise. People cried and hugged one another.

     Hundreds of students and staff turned out for a Red Cross blood drive Sept. 17. Donors waited two and a half hours in some cases to give blood, and many would-be donors were turned away because the drive couldn't accommodate more than 130. Individuals and groups raised money, which the COMECC office arranged to donate directly to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the United Way, earmarked for relief efforts relating to the Sept. 11 attacks and with no administrative fee removed.

     "Still burning deep with each of us are the fires of hopefulness and renewal and reconciliation," said interim Chancellor Marcellette G. Williams at Fri-day's ceremony on the steps of the Student Union. Williams and English professors Dara Wier and James Tate read poems to the crowd.

     "May [God] let love prevail over hate," residence director Rana Al-Jamal said. Graduate student Ahsem Sayad Achmal offered words of solace from the Koran, and Rabbi Saul Perlmutter and Deacon Richard Talbot offered prayers for peace and healing.

    "Don't forget how you feel now," Student Government Association president John Sheehan said. "If we can do that, then we can truly honor our lost brothers and sisters.

     "Fund-raising through the COMECC office to support the relief effort is ongoing. Additional information is available online (www.umass.edu/chancellor/september11).