Walnut Hill commemorates a somber anniversary

A year after the University community joined together in horror and in mourning, students, faculty, and administrators gathered again in front of Ballou Hall on Wednesday to remember the tragedy of Sept. 11. Although the shock has begun to fade, the continuing need for community was apparent from the turnout of roughly 850 people at the academic quad memorial service.

University Chaplain David O'Leary opened the "Service of Remembrance," which began at 5 p.m., by asking for a moment of silence. He then spoke about the "University family," and the way in which it joined with others throughout the country in response to Sept. 11.

Rabbi Jeffrey Summit spoke of the healing effects of gathering one year after the tragedies. "We come together to mark this difficult year now passed," he said. He then shared Poet Laureate Billy Collins' poem "The Names," which Collins read during a special joint session of Congress in New York on Friday.

Following the service, Summit said he chose to share the work because he was "very moved" by the poem's reciting of some of the victims' names and by its "symbolic inclusiveness of the men and women who were lost."

On behalf of Imam Noureddine Hawat, Tufts' Muslim chaplain who could not be at the service, O'Leary read a passage from a book entitled Islamic Way of Life that said religion "declares that all people in the world are sprung from the same parents, and therefore are equal."

The Chaplain also shared a fitting passage from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah that read, "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more."

O'Leary highlighted the civilians, police, firefighters, families of the victims, and other people affected by last year's events, and said it is important to "remember we are a global village."

Calling the Sept. 11 attacks "unspeakable acts committed against ordinary people," President Larry Bacow said the victims "were guilty only of being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

Bacow spoke of the lesson learned from the tragedies of the importance of community, and of the fragility of life. "If there is a lesson in this tragedy, it is that we must savor every minute and make the most of what we have," Bacow said.

He emphasized the responsibility of members of the Tufts community to commit to "making the work a better place through our words and deeds."

Tufts' African-American female a cappella group Essence performed the John Newton hymn "Amazing Grace" and "Wanting Memories" by Y. M. Barnwell. Sophomore Sharla Sullivan, a member of Essence, said performing the songs was an act of remembrance and healing. "We sang these songs because they remind us of what happened and why we should be there for each other in this time of hardship," she said. "But at the same time, they inspire hope for the future and an optimism that everything will work out if we are there for each other."

Reverend Steven Bonsey shared two brief texts, the first of which was entitled "Tuesday 9/11/01" by poet Lucille Clifton. The second simply read, "Jesus said 'love your enemy.'"

Catholic Center Director Ann Penick closed the ceremony with a moving performance of the song "God of Day, God of Night" by Marty Haugen.

Penick chose the song because "the message I think it says is that this is a time to grieve, there is still much to be done, a lot of sorrow is still there, but there is hope, we can heal, we are able to be refreshed and renewed."

Dean of Students Bruce Reitman thought the service provided a certain level of closure, especially since the memorial service was held at the same place and time as last year's Sept. 11 service. These elements of consistency, as well as having the same speakers at both events, provided people with comforting stability, Reitman said.

Bacow said he was pleased with the turnout at the memorial service, as well as at Wednesday's other campus events. He described the mood on campus as "contemplative."

"People have paused and thought about things in a way that they normally don't do in their daily lives," Bacow said.

O'Leary was also struck by the number of people who attended. "It is one of a few times I can remember the University family coming together like that," he said.

The service's purpose was to bring the community together, Summit said, adding that the community had a responsibility to do so.

"Communities have to mark important times that we've all lived through together. This was a way to not let this pass," he said