Surreal images played over and over on the set of nearly every television. Friends gathered in an effort to comfort one another and be anything other than as helpless as most inevitably feel. But as third-year College student Sarah Jobe said, "people are responding in the only way they know how - and that is not helplessness."
After meeting with University administrators, she helped organize Tuesday's candlelight vigil with speakers from the Christian, Muslim, Jewish and B'hai religions. With both relief and awe ringing clear in her words, Jobe said it was "the largest interfaith gathering I have ever witnessed, and the most respect I have ever seen come out of the University body."
The silence allowed for a spiritual reflection by students and faculty of all faiths, and the evening closed with a unified singing of "Amazing Grace." Fourth- year College student Lawson McNeil said she was overwhelmed by the power of the University "coming together to be bonded by a common humanity."
Students are trying to help relieve victims of the attacks in the only tangible way they know how - donating blood. Blood donors at the Fashion Square Mall waited in line for up to six hours yesterday.
Christian Terry, a second-year College student and a blood donor, delicately acknowledged that Tuesday's events are "a sobering wake-up call, but no matter what, life goes on."
But for now, many people are searching for outlets for their fears, disbelief and grief. Many professors have created an environment to encourage such expression.
Assoc. English Prof. Elizabeth Fowler encouraged students in her History of Literature in English class to read meaningful literature aloud. Fowler described the readings as "both brave, moving and from the heart."
Austen Johnson, a third-year College student from Seattle, said that although she has no direct relatives in either New York or Washington, she has never felt so connected to the people around her.
"I went to buy an American flag today, and they were completely sold out," Johnson said. "What a powerful statement in itself"
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