Vol. 61 NO. 5
ubspectrum.com
Friday, September 9, 2011
Friends Lost, Not Forgotten REBECCA BRATEK News Editor On the morning of Sept. 11, Michael Hayes turned on the television and saw holes burning in one of the World Trade Center towers as a plane came crashing into the second. He got a call that Deborah Welsh was on one of the flights that crashed that day. That’s when it became real for him; he knew somebody who was there. Hayes, the Catholic campus minister at the UB’s South Campus, was living in New York City at the time of the attacks.
fect on me until it was someone that I knew had perished. I think I kind of really felt removed, as most Americans did, not knowing anybody.”
tendant on United Airlines Flight 93, the flight that crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pa. after being hijacked by four al-Qaida terrorists.
Hayes was working as a minister at the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in downtown New York City in 2001. Not only did he have to help ease the pain of his parishioners who had lost family members and friends in the attacks, but he also had to cope with the fact that he had lost one of his choir members and a close friend –Welsh and Thomas Cullen.
The Sunday after the Tuesday attacks, Hayes had to get in front of his parish and celebrate Mass, as usual. Yet, he struggled with how to address the community and address the tragedy that had just affected every church member.
Welsh – more lovingly known as “Debbie” to those close to her – was the first-class flight at-
“I was watching the events of the day at home; I never quite made it into Manhattan. The subways had shut just before I was about to head into work,” Hayes said. “I was sitting in my apartment in Queens and I think I was just angry at the events of the day; it didn’t really have this really profound af-
“I thought this was going to be the hardest thing I would ever have to do,” Hayes said. “I said ‘I really want to welcome all of the people to our parish this morning and I’m really having a hard time doing that because one of us isn’t here today. Her name is Debbie and she was member of our choir. “She was a flight attendant on that flight that crashed in Shanksville.’ I said, ‘If you’ve never sang before, sing today. If you’re someone new here, you just came to pray, and you haven’t been to church in years, Debbie would want us to welcome you. We’re glad you’re here with us and we want you to remember our
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nyeri moulterie /// tHe speCtrum
Writing History
Muslim Students Feel the Stigma of 9/11
Spectrum Alumni Remember 9/11
STEVEN WROBEL News Editor While many students experience different stages of grief, anger, and fear in the aftermath of Sept. 11, The Spectrum published a paper on Sept. 12, 2001. Even 10 years later, the events still remain clear in the mind of the staff. “I was in shock,” said Michael Lucinski, former senior editorial editor. “I had a three-hour class that started at 9 a.m. In an age before ubiquitous smart phones, we were totally isolated and in the dark about what happened. We took a break at 10:30. We didn’t go back to class.” As the staff was preparing to publish the paper, like any other Tuesday, no one could imagine what kind of tragedy was unfolding. As word hit campus, strong emotion and a pressing need for action struck the area, as students and faculty worried about family and loved ones in New York City. Knowing that, the staff knew they had to get into action right away. “I was sitting in a dentist's chair when the first plane struck the World Trade Center. My first thoughts were shock, horror and disbelief. My next thought was that I needed to get back to the newsroom as soon as possible,” said Elizabeth Fox-Solomon, former managing editor. “I knew that we had to scrap everything we had planned for the next day and focus on the tragic events that were unfolding around us.” The Spectrum on Sept. 12 was flooded with articles from every major newspaper across the U.S., each spinning a different view of the at-
tacks. The staff also talked to students, faculty, staff, and local government and religious leaders about how they were affected, how times were going to change, and where people could go to receive help or counseling. “Every TV and computer on campus was tuned to the news as new information, and horrific images streamed in, and we all wanted to watch, absorb, [and] cope,” Fox-Solomon said. “I knew that the attacks represented not only a horrible human tragedy, but that the events of that day would forever change this nation and, to some extent, the world.” In the days that followed, coverage of the continually unfolding news spread through the pages of The Spectrum. As stories developed and more information gathered, students began to hold services and vigils for fallen friends, family and alumni. However, with all the emotions that surrounded the campus, the staff tried its best to report the facts. “I think that emotion worked its way into almost everything I wrote during the days that followed 9/11, but through the voices of those I spoke to, rather than my own voice,” Fox-Solomon said. “I covered vigils, forums, and memorial services where fellow students and other members of the university community voiced the emotions that I, as a ‘neutral’ observer, could not.” Away from campus, each day seemed to run into the next as people waited for updates from the White House and watched as the news kept playing videos and showing pictures of the
When Ayyaz Tufail, the Muslim Student Association (MSA) president, moved to New York City with his family in January 2001, he visited the twin towers. Standing atop one of the world’s tallest buildings was thrilling, he said. When news of the attacks broke, memories of the past visit merged with worries for the future.“[My family and I] were all sad when the towers crashed, and didn't really know or understand what it meant for us, that people who had carried out the attacks had used our religion as an excuse,” Tufail said. Muslim students have come to expect every kind of reaction to their religion.In the aftermath of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, students have experienced acceptance or tolerance from some, and discrimination from others. Tufail and MSA Secretary Sunny Jamil were both elementary students in New York City on the day of the attacks. Tufail recalls he and his family being denied entry into a store the afternoon following the attacks. “Until this day I wonder if that was the first time we were discriminated [against] as Muslims – because of Sept. 11,” Tufail said. Jamil said he never really experienced any serious threats of discrimination. He just took the experiences in stride and used them to better himself, learning more about his past and why he was so different.
“I was just a kid; all I remember is kids teasing me. I didn’t take it as racism or discrimination, I just took it as bullies being bullies.” Jamil said. “I was given an opportunity to fight something that was wrong against my religion. I had to go out and open a book or a website and read about it. I felt refreshed I was actually learning.” Despite his dedication to learning about his religion and culture, Jamil met roadblocks as he grew up. When attempting to have discussions with his peers, many of them harbored anti-Muslim sentiments because of the terrorist attacks. He realized that you can’t eradicate one ignorant side. “I tried to prove people wrong and they tried to prove me wrong and it was a never ending battle. Arguments never end,” Jamil said. When Jamil moved to Buffalo, he was surprised to hear stories of Muslims being stopped in airports multiple times in the past 10 years for security reasons; something he’s never experienced. “There are people who look the other way when they find out I’m an MSA officer, but there are also non-Muslims who email us asking us if they can volunteer,” Jamil said. Ten years later, many in the Muslim community still find that negativity and stigmas surround their religion. Many Muslims are uncomfortable speaking about their experiences and have found that they have had to be more cautious since the attacks.
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Weather for the Weekend: Friday:Scattered T-storms - H: 74, L: 61 Saturday: Partly Cloudy - H:73 L: 57 Friday: Partly Coudy - H: 73, L: 60
SARA DINATALE Staff Writer
Andrew Trond, a freshman accounting and
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