Celebrating 100 Years
UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
The Student Voice Since 1903
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2003
New York fire chief receives a hero's welcome at UCO by Rick Russick Staff Writer Sometimes, an ordinary cup of coffee takes on a whole new meaning. On Sept. 11, 2001, at 7 a. m., FDNY Battalion Chief Richard "Pitch" Picciotto strolled into the fire station early only to wake to a living nightmare, a disaster that would haunt him forever. On the second anniversary of 9-11, a flurry of emotions was aroused as Picciotto shared his testimony in Nigh University Center's Constitution Hall. Picciotto, author of the bestselling book "Last Man Down," was the New York City fire chief trapped between the sixth and seventh floors of World Trade Center North Tower when it fell. "[Sept. 11 was] one of those times in history where we all know what we were doing, where we were and who we were with," Picciotto said. He compared 9-11 with the Kennedy assassination and the space shuttle Challenger disaster. Picciotto answered the call over his CB radio at 8:45 a.m. when the first plane hit the north tower. He said his mind was racing as he remembered the World Trade Center bombing in 1993. He was
the second chief in charge of evacuation. He said he knew that the occurrence wasn't an accident because there were no clouds in the sky. ( "I immediately felt it was a terrorist attack. It wasn't an accident," he said. "Planes don't routinely fly into high-rise buildings." Picciotto said that one of the biggest challenges was getting people out of the buildings. In addition to visitors, about 20,000 people worked at the WTC with, he said. There were 99 elevators and 35 elevator shafts in each building. When the planes hit, those elevator shafts were filled with fire as 20,000 pounds of jet fuel ignited inside the 90th floor of the north tower. However, each building had only three 36-inch-wide stairwells. "I had a hell of a time moving people around," Picciotto said. The average fireman carries about 100 pounds of equipment. Imagine trying to carry that kind of weight up a flight of stairs, he said. Picciotto was carrying about 60 pounds of equipment and had to climb from the 25th floor to the 93rd floor to lead the evacuation.
Panic could be seen on everyone's faces, he said, but no one was running. About an hour after the first plane hit, the building started to shake. Then it stopped. The shaking felt was the south tower collapsing, Picciotto said. The people in that tower were killed instantly. Picciotto knew he had to get everyone out of the north tower, and he grabbed the bullhorn and gave the evacuation order. Movement was slow, and only one stairwell remained open. Finally, Picciotto made it to the sixth floor when the building started to shake again. He said he knew that in a matter of seconds, the tower would be down. "The building was literally falling apart," he said. "Then, everything went black. The noise was tremendous." The south tower fell in 10 seconds. It only took eight seconds for the north tower to fall. "It was the longest and shortest eight seconds of my life," Picciotto said. He said that he could not feel anything and that he was dead. "There was nothing but an eerie silence. I was covered in a gray powdery substance, sort of
Photo by Justin Avera
FDNY Chief Richard Picciotto speaks Sept. 11 in Constitution Hall.
like baby powder," he said. "We couldn't breathe." Twelve fire fighters, Port Authority police officers and two civilians were trapped alive under tons of rubble, Picciotto said. "They say that right before you die, your life flashes before your eyes. I prayed, 'Please God, make it quick,"' he said. After about three or four hours, Picciotto and the other survivors
were rescued. "I felt like a cockroach crawling: out of a hole after a nuclear explo-: sion," he said: Picciotto said that the events of Sept. 11 have changed Americans! and given new priorities to all. "It's a shame that it took some-i thing like this to bring America together, but now we are all unit-: ed," he said. "We got a lot of help from
Oklahomans. It carried us through," he said. Picciotto credited his survival to his faith. "I had faith in my country, my friends, my family and God," he said. "I don't go to church a lot, but I know there's a supreme being carrying us all through," Picciotto said.
RAs receive leadership training by Kim Roberts Staff Writer A new Residence Life program was organized this year to teach leadership abilities to its members Twenty students currently participate in the Residence Leadership Community, which was organized by the UCO Housing Department. "We do a lot of activities. We give the students a chance to get their feet wet and practice what they learn," said Chris Snoddy, assistant director of Residence Life. While many leadership programs are geared toward honing skills in already established leaders, RLC focuses on developing leadership skills in regular students, Snoddy saicL In addition to working together and taking class together, the students in the program live together in the
Leadership Hall of West Hall. The program targets incoming freshmen, he said, although it is open to all students. "There are people from all over — small towns, big towns, other countries. This gives them a chance to open up," said Mark Simpson, resident advisor for Leadership Hall. The twenty students were chosen after submitting an application, resume, references and essay, then going through a written and verbal interview, Simpson said. The students engage in weekly discussion groups and are enrolled in a credited leadership class. They also participate in other programs geared toward bettering the UCO campus and themselves, such as the Residence Hall Association, volunteerism program, tutoring program and Conduct Review Board. The Conduct Review Board is
made up of five RLC students and deal with students who have been written up for misconduct. The students are the core group in charge of these programs, with the exception of RHA. Five students work in each of the four programs, Snoddy said. "We're going to put up fliers to let students know about the tutors. We're trying to get tutors for all the halls," said sophomore Raynolds Afful Ofosu, who is involved in the tutoring program. "Being a leader is about finding how to help. It's about finding your special qualities and using them to help people, even if you don't always get the credit," Simpson said. The RLC students will hold a free car wash for UCO faculty members in the Liberal Arts faculty parking lot from 2 to 5 p.m. Sept. 23.
Photo by Gavin Elliott
RAs sit in class during leadership training.
Students react to President Bush's request for additional war funds by Rachael Tully Staff Writer While somber memories were fresh in American's minds with the second anniversary of 9-11, President Bush addressed the nation early last week. Students on campus expressed mixed feelings towards Bush's address, in which he asked Congress for $87 billion to fund military and intelligence expenses in Iraq and Afghanistan. "America should support the president's decision," said
Jake Sandlin, criminal justice major. "After all, we elected him to do what he sees fit." The United States has spent $79 billion on the war in Iraq, and if Congress grants Bush's request, it will add CO the $480 billion national deficit. President Bush said that part of the money would be used to build new schools and medical clinics in Iraq. Students argue that America needs those same things as much as Iraq. "Our education system is on the decline," business major Anthony Brown said.
"We should be using the money on our schools "America should instead of war." support the presiJournalism major Chris dent's decision. Stinchcomb said After all, we elected he agreed that him to do what he such spending ought to be sees fit." used for problems within the United States. — Jake Sandlin "We need to Criminal Justice deal with our problems at killed during the home," Stinchcomb said. "We should step back and war.
let the Iraqi people fix their own problems," he said. The New York Times reports that 181,000 American troops are stationed in Iraq and Kuwait. 151 Americans have been course of the
The president reported that 42 of 55 of "Saddam's most wanted" have been captured or killed. Co-chairman of the UCO Democratic Socialists Clay Webber said, "I totally support our military, but our boys are professional. They have not been trained to be international police officers." President of the UCO College Republicans Kyle Houts said he fully supports the president's request. "If the cost is $87 billion to save the lives of thousands in the USA, then I know my tax
dollars are being spent the right way," Houts said. Most students agreed that the war should end soon. Many of them have friends or family in the military, and they said Bush's request will make a crucial impact on them. Broadcast major David Doughty said he, like many others, disagrees with the continuing war. "We shouldn't add to the list of casualties," he said. "We should bring our soldiers back home."