A spectrum of experts at the University spoke with The Cavalier Daily about the technical and political implications of yesterday's tragedies in New York City and Washington D.C. Kirk Martini, associate professor of architecture and civil engineering, specializes in designing buildings to withstand extreme shocks. He said he believes there is currently no way to design a building to withstand a direct collision with such large jet aircraft.
"You can build a building to withstand a plane crash such as this," Martini said. "But you have to consider how those precautions will affect the working environment. You might not have any windows if you build it that strong."
Yesterday's crash was not the first aircraft-skyscraper collision in New York's history. On July 28, 1945, a B-25 bomber on its way to Newark International Airport became lost in fog and accidentally flew into the center of Manhattan. After dodging several other buildings, the pilot crashed into the 79th floor of the Empire State Building.
According to Martini, the World Trade Center was built with the risk of a plane collision in mind.
"The fact that this building withstood the 1993 bombing is a testament to its strength," Martini said. "I don't think anyone ever considered a situation like this."
Yesterday's loss will also test the Bush administration's ability to act decisively when phased with unexpected crises.
Sidney Milkis, professor of government and foreign affairs and a senior scholar at the Millar Center of Public Affairs, spoke of the president's role in the aftermath of a national attack.
"Terrorism cuts to the soul of American society," Milkis said. "The president must assure the nation that, in spite of the attack, the United States will survive and grow stronger because of it."
Milkis, who specializes in American presidential politics, cited both Franklin Roosevelt's reaction to Pearl Harbor and Bill Clinton's statements following the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. Both addresses stressed an American's right to "freedom from fear."
He qualified the media's comparison of the World Trade Center bombing to the attack on Pearl Harbor.
"Terrorist attacks pose less of a threat to the nation than do military attacks, but the enemy is much harder to identify," he said.
Perhaps the greatest fallout from this disaster will be a great loss in Americans' sense of national security.
"Unfortunately, Americans may begin to understand what it's like to live in the Middle East, where terrorist acts are more commonplace," Professor of Jewish studies Peter Ochs said.
Read More
U.Va. loses over $60 million in federal research cuts
By Bertie Azqueta | YesterdayThe impacted grants include three from the NIH, seven from the NEH, one from the United States Agency for International Development and four from the State Department.
Department of Education reverses course, awards Federal Executive Institute to U.Va.
By Ford McCracken | 4 days agoThe ED had previously awarded the institute to Charlottesville City Schools.
Students reflect on the life and legacy of Pope Francis
By Bertie Azqueta | 5 days agoAt the University, students shared a range of perspectives on his legacy of reform, inclusivity and his impact on the global Catholic community.
