9/11/01: Ramapo Remembers

By ERICA BUCHMAN

The Salameno Spiritual Center, where 9/11: From a Dark past to a Bright Future was held. PHOTO/Ramapo College

On Sept, 11, 2001, Ramapo College’s bustling second week of new fall semester had ground to halt, unable to take their eyes away from the television screen; smoke was even visible from Route 17.

“People were congregated on the bandshell,” Mercer said.  “There was a great deal of alarm and sadness and part of the alarm was predicated by the fact that you can see the skyline from Route 17; you could see the smoke coming from the south end of the city. Everyone at the time was concerned about the implications. What did this mean for the world? How were things going to change?”

From an innocent child to all grown up

At the time of the attacks, the majority of Ramapo students’ ages ranged from eight to 11.  Amanda Harvin, a senior, was in the sixth grade when  her teacher informed her class of the twin towers’ collapse.

“My class was in the library when we found out,” recalls Harvin.  “The librarian told us the towers had collapsed, but we weren’t really paying attention to her.  Then when we got back to our classroom, our teacher had the television on and we just sat there, watching the news for the rest of the morning.  I remember some of my classmates leaving throughout the day; their parents were taking them out of school.”

Harvin, a psychology major at Ramapo, has long since changed the way she looks at the world now versus when she was 11.

As a child, I only knew the world as I saw it: my house, my school, my family and friends.  But now, after all that has happened in America and around the world, I see a complex world that goes beyond what I see and do every day.”

Harvin is a firm believer in the importance of commemorating what happened that fateful day.

“My high school history teacher showed us a quote by George Santayana that said, ‘Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it’.  I fully support that belief; remembering 9/11 is vital if we want to steer America towards a brighter future, one that is free from terror. That’s why I felt it important to observe the ten year anniversary here at Ramapo.”

Since the attacks, Ramapo College has observed every anniversary without fail. To remember the 10th anniversary of the 2,985 victims who perished in the Sept. 11 attacks, Ramapo hosted a candle lighting ceremony entitled 9/11: From a Dark Past to a Bright Future.

“There has been some sort of modest remembrance annually for 9/11,” said Patricia Kozakiewicz, the executive assistant to the president, “We’ve had everyone pause for a minute at the exact time of the attack, candlelit vigils, and other things of that magnitude.”

Even though Mercer wasn’t the president of Ramapo College at the time, Kozakiewicz, has perfect recall of what happened on Sept. 11.

“Ramapo was quiet that day.  However, immediately following the attacks, we had counseling services set up and available to all those who wished to partake.”

Click here to hear Paticia’s account of that day

Ramapo will never forget

In 2011, Ramapo College held a commemorative ceremony at the Salameno Spiritual Center. The school’s religious clubs banded together to create a remembrance that people of all faiths could participate in.  Matt Higgins, the campus minister, helped organize the event.

The Salameno Spiritual Center, where 9/11: From a Dark past to a Bright Future was held. Photo by Ramapo College

“Newman Catholic—the student club for Roman Catholics, Hillel, Campus Crusade for Christ, and the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship were all apart of bringing the remembrance ceremony to life, “ Higgins said.

“We’ve been planning this since the summer—a lot of people were involved. Father Bill Sheridan, the director of campus ministry, and myself wanted to do something everyone could participate in, no matter his or her religion—doing a prayer that doesn’t offend anyone. We wanted to be open to all faiths. I think we did a pretty good job; Sept.11 extends beyond faith, it shouldn’t be a faith issue,” Higgins added. “It’s an American issue, it’s a human issue.”

The amount effort that went into preparing 9/11: From a Dark Past to a Bright Future was extensive.

“Planning started back August and continued up to the actual date, when student volunteers were randomly picked from the crowd to perform candle lighting,” stated Higgins proudly. “But after a prayer, asking to open our hearts, the mood changed. It was still solemn but began to be more about the fact that after these attacks we are still here, still thriving and learning on Ramapo campus. This was when ten candles were lit each representing a specific description. It started with one candle and continued to become brighter as each one was lit.”

Higgins is not the only one who feels that the Sept. 11 attacks are a human issue and not a faith issue. Joe Prentice, the president of Newman Catholic, who attended 9/11: From a Dark Past to a Bright Future, believes that showing unity is one of the greatest things we as a country can do.

“Looking back, 10 years ago I did not understand the severity and the magnitude of this event,” said Prentice. “Now after a few years of thought, reflection, and prayer I have come to understand this event fully and I will continue to remember the people who died and gave their lives in service.”

A decade of reflection has also given Prentice a fierce sense of patriotism. He wholeheartedly supports the soldiers who are currently fighting in Iraq.

“Reflecting on this awful event also has shown me the power of the United States; in our time of need we joined together as one nation and are stronger now than we were before.“

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