Shock. Numbness. Confusion. Apt words to describe the mood on Grounds, which took a somber turn yesterday.
Around televisions in Newcomb Hall - the designated counseling center for the University - clusters of students watched through swollen eyes as the images splashed across the screen. Images of destruction, of despair, of a nation reeling from a terrorist attack unprecedented in its history.
The scene in Newcomb Hall, which doubtless played out across college campuses nationwide, has particular cogency on Grounds, where a large portion of the student body hails from the Washington, D.C. and New York City metro areas.
Though only a handful of students sought support from Student Health's Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) yesterday, psychologist Kristen Price expects demand for counseling to increase throughout the week.
"At present, students do not fully comprehend the enormity of the situation. As it sinks in, I think more students will make use of our walk-in appointments," Price said.
She said that an open dialogue speeds the healing process for victims of emotional trauma.
Price encourages students to "get with a support system, be it family, a circle of friends, or faith, and talk about their feelings."
Psychologist Jill Weber, also with CAPS, expects yesterday's tragedy to exact a lasting toll nevertheless.
"It will take a long time to figure out what this means to us," she said. "We will still think about the events of today when we're 80 years old"
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