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The Student Voice of the University of Central Oklahoma Since 1903
September 11, 2007
9-11 LINGERS SIX YEARS LATER by Hannah Jackson Staff Writer Six years after terrorists attacked the United States, Homeland Securitystillasserts an "elevated" or significant national threat risk. There is also a "high" terrorist attack risk for domestic and international flights, which is just one level away from the top of the scale -- "severe" threat. America is invariably different since the attack, whether in mindset, morals, actions, or apprehensions, but how much do UCO students think we have changed since September 11, 2001? "I think people are becoming comfortable again," said Gina Xenos, a freshman sociology major. She added that America hadn't completely reverted to a pre-September 11 state-ofmind, but that Americans are becoming more relaxed. Lesa Jackson, a sophomore sociology major, said that although the event brought Americans together initially, people are still divided because of opinions regarding the war in Iraq. Teddi Edwards, a sophomore management and marketing major said that the increased number of troops going overseas means that people are directly affected by the war. She said that regardless of individual support or opposition to the war, the overall population is now thinking more about the military because of its amplified proximity. Jay Hansen, a junior English education major,
believes the American people have changed but the American government has not. "Americans are more concerned with the world. We've caught up with the rest of the world," Hansen said, adding that American people are worrying more about issues such as • environment, nuclear power, and energy use. "People are getting more involved in
these problems," he said. Other students at UCO believe the change to be less positive, and controversial. There's a lotmore stereotypical racism said Damien Colbert, a senior general studies major. "People with middle eastern accents are labeled as terrorists," Colbert said. "It doesn't matter if they're Persian or Indian, just because they look different.
Yongil Park, a sophomore finance and music performance major, left South Korea six weeks ago to come to school at UCO. He was in the military in September 2001 and was surprised when he heard about the terrorist attacks on America. `It was a temporary day of horror but everything's the same now," Park said, "[Except for] foreigners."
He described the difficulties he had in getting a social security number so that he could live in Oklahoma. "I couldn't get a number, but a long time ago, it was easier," he said. Park also explained that getting a passport cost him almost $1,500 compared to the $205 that a natural-born American pays for a passport. It is also a very complicated process if the
passport is lost, he said. Park said he wasn't scared to fly when he moved to America and isn't fearful about another attack on the United States. Although some students believe another attack on the United States is unlikely, others still have an eminent fear of terrorism. The strict security at airports immediately after Sept. 11 calmed down after a while, said Edwards. Even with. the rules regarding what can and cannot be carried on a plane, it is still possible for security mistakes. "I think people still get through [security] with things they shouldn't, so terrorists could too," Jackson said. "You hear about people taking liquids —three ounces Only — but of what?" Edwards said. Colbert believes another attack to be likely. "Where there's a will, there's a way. They're determined enough," he said. "If it does happen again, it'll be something you've , never imagined." Six years and multiple terrorist threats later, America is still at a state of heightened security alert and it seems that UCO students, although continuing with their lives, also fear for future attacks. "We have an unrealistic optimism about it. It could happen if we let down our guard and our security," Xenos said, "They [terrorists] won't say, `Ok, I tried once, I'm done."'
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
Lisa Jackson explains how she thinks the tragedy of September 11 still affects society six years later. In 2001, nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives after Al-Qaeda operatives hijacked three passenger airliners.
Hannah Jackson can be reached at hjackson©thevistaonline.corn.
STUDENTS ELECTED FOR Dr. Pardo expands horizons 2OLYMPIC FLAME PROGRAM by exploring new cultures by Aaron Wright Managing Editor At a young age, this UCO professor_left_Brooklyn_and hitchhiked through Europe for three years. She went to Spain to study, but eventually left in pursuit of a more adventurous education. She found it in the form of the people of France, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden, Greece, and other countries. "That was the beginnings of my travels," said Dr. Diana l'ardo, Spanish professor in the modern language department at UCO. "Once I did that, I knew I would travel the rest of my life." Since then, she has traveled to Thailand, Korea, Guam and extensively through Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean. Most recently, Pardo spent the majority of her summer in Nicaragua and Mexico, preparing for a class she's teaching this fall in conjunction with the Passport to Central America program. The class is titled "Mexico and Central America: War and Revolution." She was approached about teaching this class approxi-
mately 10 months ago. She said she decided to travel as preparation for this class immediately afterwards. She spent two weeks in Mexico, predominately on the coast and in the Yucatan peninsula, which is one of her favorite places to visit in Mexico because ofthe history. "Mexico is a huge country so it's not like you can see it all in one visit," she said. For five weeks, Pardo lived in Nicaragua, interviewing survivors of the two civil wars that have haunted the citizens for the past few decades. "I had no idea what to expect. I was there last
year and I knew there were stories there," she said. What she was surprised to hear was the intensity of the atrocities the people experienced during war. She told stories of people so overcome with emotion, whether it was crying or nervousness, that they could barely continue their interview with her. Pardo remarked that it was difficult for her to leave the interview without being affected. She had originally planned on interviewing three people a day. However, many times she did not continue after just one interview. "After one person, it was such an emotional experience that I couldn't go on," she said. Despite the devastating nature of the stories, people traveled from all over to speak to Pardo about their story. Pardo said they were happy not to be forgotten by the world. One story, in particular, that Pardo remembers was told by a mother who found out her son was supporting the rebels in the 1970s. Her son came home in a different
see Pardo, page 7
News Central
"All are lunatics, but he who
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can analyze his delusions is
by Vista photographer Chris Albers
Eric Reed and Joshua Watley were two of 30 student leaders represented at the U.S. Olympic Committee's FLAME program that took place Aug. 2-5 in Colorado Springs.
by Nelson Solomon Staff Writer Two UCO students were selected this past summer to participate in the United States Olympic Committee's "Finding Leaders Among Minorities Everywhere"
called a philosopher." —Ambrose Bierce
(F.L.A.M.E.) program, which took place Aug. 25 in Colorado Springs, Co. Eric Reed and Joshua Watley, both juniors from Oklahoma City, were two of thirty student leaders from universities throughout the country that were selected to travel
SEE THE GRAND CANYON PAGE 3
to the Olympic Movement headquarters, which is home to nearly 230 resident athletes, in Colorado Springs. Reed said he discovered the F.L.A.M.E. program from surfing the web one nightwhile
see FLAME, page 6