Surrounded by a sea of flags across College Green, University Chaplain Chaz Howard offered a challenge to students gathered to memorialize those that died in the Sept. 11 attacks. “We can do better. We can have a world where no September 11ths happen again,” he said.
Saturday’s memorial, sponsored by the College Republicans, lasted twenty minutes and began with the Glee Club singing the National Anthem shortly after 6 p.m.
Noting the lack of awareness of the date amongst students, College Republicans Executive Director and College sophomore Jonathan Skekloff expressed his sadness as he spoke in front of approximately 30 students gathered for the event.
“People — almost everyone, it seemed — were acting like today was just another day,” Skekloff said. “Sure, some may stop to look at the flags for a second, questioning what they mean or what day it is, but more just walk by altogether.”
While encouraging students to remember the date, Howard also implored them to try to improve the world in response to the attacks and expressed confidence that they could do so. “We have hope in these young adults here,” he said.
The College Republicans are just one of the many student organizations to host ceremonies in the nine years following the Sept. 11 attacks.
“On the first observance of the attacks, we put together a day-long series of events,” Associate Vice Provost for Equity and Access William Gipson, the University Chaplain at the time of the attacks, wrote in an e-mail. The first anniversary was marked across campus by bell tolls, art projects and panel discussions.
That year, then-University President Judith Rodin also hosted an interfaith candlelight vigil.
Since 2002, the University has not held any official commemoration of the terrorist attacks. Instead, student groups have taken on a greater role in memorializing the date.
In 2003 and 2005 Penn American Red Cross, founded in part because of the attacks, held blood drives around the anniversary of Sept. 11. However, the group no longer holds the drive, according to its president, former Daily Pennsylvanian opinion artist and College senior Janice Dow.
Student groups continue to conceive of and host new memorial events. In 2009 the Muslim Students Association organized a 9/11 Ramadan Banquet to honor the victims of the terrorist attacks in conjunction with the College Republicans, Penn Democrats and other student organizations.
The events have changed, but the date is still marked every year.
“We are allowed to move on from 9/11,” Skekloff said as he ended his speech. “Like any wound, it must heal, it must scar over, and this nation must keep going forward stronger than it was before. The key is to move on without forgetting.”
