DECKER PROFILE PAGE 8
The students’ voice since 1901 • Vol. 111 No. 4 • Thursday, September 8, 2011 • Check us out online.
ON THE
10 Years Later...
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Students indifferent to news of bin Laden’s death
Photo Illustration by Jon Coffey/The Bulletin
B rooke S chultz schultz@esubulletin.com After the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, the United States faced challenging times of decision-making and mourning. The U.S. invaded Iraq and Afghanistan, entering a War on Terror that is still raging today. “Nineteen men with box cutters completely changed the course of history – to the detriment of the United States,” said Phil Kelly, professor of social sciences. Kelly said when Osama bin Laden, the former leader, now dead, of al-Quai-
da, launched an attack on America, it cost the terror organization roughly half a million dollars to carry out the plan. But Kelly said America has spent up to three trillion dollars in order to maintain this war, and that he feels the U.S. is weaker as a result. “I think Afghanistan was logical,” Kelly said. But after 10 years of fighting, Kelly said he doesn’t see any reason for the U.S. to remain in either Iraq or Afghanistan and that it is time for the U.S. to leave. “I don’t think (bin Laden) imagined that he would be that successful,” Kelly said. “We played into his hands.”
Veteran alums reflect on 9/11 C harlie H eptas news@esubulletin.com For Steve Harmon, director of external relations at Flint Hills Technical College, Emporia State alum and active sergeant for the National Guard, the attack on the Twin Towers was an unforgettable moment. “I was director of the Butler Community College Foundation in Kansas,” Harmon said. “While meeting with a donor, our receptionist walked in and told us about the first tower being hit. The donor and I kept visiting until the second tower was hit. After that we stopped all work, took care of our families and filled up our gas tanks.” But Harmon said that his first thought was on security missions for the military, not deployment or war. Harmon said he felt that the military changed their focus rapidly, going from fighting in the time of the Cold War to dealing with insurgency, stability and security, while at home the U.S. had to deal with deployment on a much larger scale. “Our families and employers went from losing their spouses, relatives and employees two weeks a year to up to 18 months at a time,” Harmon said. “It has been a burden born by our entire society in an effort to make sure we never again have another 9/11.” Harmon graduated from ESU with a master’s in instructional design and technology in 2008, as well as receiving his bach-
But bin Laden was assassinated this past year when the U.S. invaded Pakistan on a secret mission. A group of Navy SEALs, as well as four helicopters, entered his compound in Abbottabad and conducted a 40-minute operation to assassinate the terrorist who had led the attacks on 9/11. After the mission, bin Laden was buried at sea, according to the National Public Radio’s website. “I could really care less if Osama bin Laden was killed,” said Sheldon Patton, junior social science major. “There’s no point in killing Americans to find him. Two wrongs don’t make a right.” Ashley Hanson, freshmen elementary
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Students, faculty face tighter flying rules post 9/11 M egan N olan nolan@esubulletin.com
First Sergeant Steve Harmon (right) poses for a photo with his team’s interpreter, “John,” and First Sergeant Gary Barnes. Harmon served his most recent tour as a combat adviser in Afghanistan. Photo Courtesy of Steve Harmon
elor’s and another master’s degree in 1993 and 1996, respectively. He has served in the military for a total of 24 years, including three years in the Army as well as 21 years in the Kansas National Guard. He is currently First Sergeant of the HHC 2nd Combined Arms Battalion 137th Infantry for the Kan-
sas Army National Guard. Cory Cannon, another ESU alum and Iraq veteran, was a student on campus when the attacks on 9/11 took place. He was working as an announcer for an Emporia radio station.
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The events of 9/11 forever changed the way Americans travel. “I remember driving to the airport (in New York) about a week before 9/11 and my MOORE wife pointing out how nice the Twin Towers looked,” said Mel Storm, professor of English. Storm said he has been traveling by air for years and has been to about 25 different countries. But even 10 years after 9/11, some things will never be the same when it comes to flying. Storm said that he remembers about a month after the attacks, a guest speaker for the English department asked to borrow nail clippers because he was not allowed to bring his own on the plane. Mariah Newton, sophomore social studies education major, went to Europe last summer and said she was not
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Emporia organizations strive to honor veterans L uke B ohannon bohannon@esubulletin.com
Photo courtesy of American Fallen Warrior Foundation
As the tenth anniversary of the attacks on 9/11 nears, various groups in Emporia look to honor not only those who lost their lives, but also the soldiers who fought and are still fighting overseas in the War on Terror. “It’s a more somber anniversary, so there’s not a lot of pomp and circumstance,” said Casey Woods, director of Emporia Main Street, “but there are some people doing some small but significant things to honor the memory of those lost on 9/11.” Woods said different groups in the community are holding events to honor the victims of the attacks as well as the soldiers who continue to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. The group Muslims for Life will hold a blood drive on Sept. 10. Patriot Riders, a motorcycle club whose members attend funerals of servicemen and women, will ride through different areas in Emporia to honor different military branches as well as citizens who lost their lives during the attack.
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