More than 300 Wharton undergraduate and graduate students gathered last night for a memorial service honoring the victims of Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington.
The ceremony, held in Lehman Quadrangle in front of Vance Hall, included speeches from Wharton students and faculty and a candlelight vigil for the thousands who remain missing in the rubble.
Wharton Dean Patrick Harker made opening remarks to a crowd that covered the lawn and spilled into the walkway surrounding the Quadrangle.
"For all of us, it will be the horror that we witnessed unfolding right before our eyes that will haunt us," Harker said. "As a community, we will withstand the devastation of this tragedy, and we will go forward."
Harker spoke about the numerous Wharton School alumni who worked in the World Trade Center and the surrounding area. He said that no one is sure how many alumni were injured or killed by the Twin Towers' collapse.
"I think some of us are frustrated that we can't do more," he said. "Being there for one another -- being human -- is more important. We are a close community, and this tragedy will bring us closer."
A University-wide memorial service was held on Wednesday afternoon in Irvine Auditorium.
Harker said that many Wharton students approached him about the school holding a separate service for the victims.
"In some cases, it's the connection to New York," Harker explained. "It's really impacted their lives. Many of our MBA students worked there for many years. Many of our undergraduates have interned there."
Before the candles were lit, Wharton Graduate Association President Khadir Richie spoke about the strong sense of community among all Wharton students.
"When our family hurts, we all feel the pain," Richie said. "The lighting of these candles symbolizes hope."
After the candle-lighting ceremony, Wharton senior Carolyn Sy spoke about the bond that had been created among Wharton undergraduates.
"Look at the support and the concern and the love and the care of this community," she said. "We became a community united and committed to helping in every way we can."
Second-year MBA student Michelle Monteiro spoke on behalf of the graduate community, describing the "craving for revenge" that she said would do more harm than good.
"We must not let the anger that we feel turn into hate, because if we hate, then they have won," Monteiro said.
The event closed with remarks from Legal Studies and Management Professor Richard Shell, who shared his personal experience. Shell told stories of a Georgetown University professor killed in the Pentagon plane crash as well as his son's reaction to the incident.
Some who attended the service had also attended Wednesday's memorial. First-year MBA student Ty Stiklorius said she believed it was important for Wharton students to grieve with people in similar situations.
"Obviously, we're part of a greater community," she said. "But it's hit particularly close to home at Wharton. Sometimes, it's easier to mourn and feel closeness and sadness with the people that you do know in a smaller group."
Second-year MBA student Grace Lin said the connections many Wharton students have to the aftermath of the World Trade center attacks run deep.
"There are so many financial ties," Lin said. "So much of this class is represented by people who work on Wall Street or have friends and family who work on Wall Street."
Wharton spokesman Michael Baltes confirmed that there have been preliminary discussions about building a memorial, possibly to be located in Huntsman Hall, for Wharton alumni killed in the attacks.
