At the first Student Council meeting of the school year last night, members unanimously passed a resolution to commemorate those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks and honor the people who responded to the crisis. Coinciding with the passage of this legislation, the Community Affairs Committee announced its joint plans with other student organizations to express appreciation for Charlottesville public servants on the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
With the passing of the Resolution In Remembrance of the Victims and Heroes of 9/11, Council pledged to honor "the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the Armed Forces, intelligence services and first responders who work tirelessly."
Council representatives will table on Grounds in days leading up to Sept. 11, asking students to make thank you cards for Charlottesville's public servants. Council also hopes to receive the University's permission to sell miniature flags as a fundraiser for an as-of-yet undecided charity.
"We're going to encourage [if approved] that when a student buys a flag ... that they'd be placed in the Lawn area around Homer," Community Affairs Co-Chair Jeff Roberson said.
Other initiatives planned include a community-wide barbecue held by Council. University Programs Council is hoping to create a scholarship fund for students whose lives were affected by the Sept. 11 attacks.
The Charlottesville community also has organized a 5-kilometer race for the anniversary.
"I was astounded at the number of students who were really affected by 9/11," Community Affairs Co-Chair Paige Curtis said. "I see this event as taking the time for those students to reflect and to remember."
Curtis emphasized the need to record appreciation for the police department, fire department and other City employees who work to keep Charlottesville a safe community.
"The tagline at our meeting was 'U.Va. Remembers and U.Va. Appreciates'," Curtis said. "Our concern is that we [be] moving forward and also appreciating the public servants who are here."
Roberson echoed Curtis' belief in the significance of the two goals of the event.
"I believe it is of great importance and priority to commemorate not only the losses that occurred but also the heroic acts of our public servants," Roberson said. "While the tagline is 'Remembering and Not Forgetting,' we still need to focus on what the community has and be proud"
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