When news of terrorism on the East Coast reached Eugene two weeks ago, the University Counseling Center and Campus Interfaith Ministry joined countless other groups across the nation in holding a vigil to honor victims and survivors of the attack.
As students return to classes this week, campus groups are still looking for ways to help people deal with the tragedy.
But in the wake of such a devastating and unexpected event, it is not always easy to know what to do, ASUO President Nilda Brooklyn said.
“I think a lot of people are still really in shock,” she said. “And the next steps to take are very hard to formulate.”
While deciding on a response may be difficult, members of campus organizations are taking action. Some groups have discussed holding public forums on the issues surrounding the attacks. Others are encouraging members to show their support for victims and the country by displaying American flags or wearing ribbons.
Today, the University’s Bias Response Team will begin distributing green and white ribbons on campus. The colors of the ribbons represent the dove and the olive branch — international symbols of peace — according to Chicora Martin, director of LGBT Educational Support Services and a member of BRT.
BRT decided to give out the ribbons as a show of “solidarity,” she said, as well as to encourage people to “find common ground” and support community members. Ribbons will be available in the Office of Student Life, and in the EMU Lobby from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Interfraternity Council President Kevin Gelbrich said he is pleased to see members of the Greek system showing patriotic support by putting up American flags in their houses and wearing red, white and blue ribbons.
“It’s great to see the outpouring of support we’ve had already,” he said.
He said that during recruitment, which starts this week for both men and women, chapters usually are involved in some type of philanthropic activity. In light of the recent events, he added, some chapters are considering doing something to aid the relief effort this year, although no plans have been confirmed yet.
At the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity on 15th Avenue and Alder Street, a large, faded American flag with tattered ends drapes over one side of the house.
Elliott Key, vice president of the fraternity, said the flag was brought back from Panama by a former member who was stationed there while serving in the Army.
He said fraternity members put up the flag on the day of the attacks after noticing that not many Greek chapters or other campus groups had American flags displayed.
“You look around campus, and it seems like there’s really not that much support,” he said.
Showing support for those affected by the crisis was particularly important to members of Pi Kappa Alpha, he added, because one fraternity member had a parent who was in the World Trade Center at the time of the attack.
Brooklyn said the ASUO is planning ways to aid victims of the attacks, such as starting a fund for the relief effort. The Muslim Student Association and Students of the Indian Subcontinent (SISC), will work with the ASUO to create that fund, she said.
The International Student Association, SISC and the ASUO also plan on hosting a benefit dinner to raise money for the relief effort, ASUO Vice President Joy Nair said.
ASUO members want to prevent students from becoming targets of discrimination as a result of prejudices ignited by the incident, Brooklyn said.
On Friday, the ASUO will join the International Students Association in hosting a discussion about the attacks during ISA’s scheduled Coffee Hour, held weekly in the International Resource Center from 4 to 6 p.m.
Brooklyn said it will be a forum “dedicated to peace” that will provide students and others who attend with an opportunity to reflect on recent events.
ISA co-director Shruti Shah said members of ISA felt it was important to address the attacks because many international students may feel scared for their safety after seeing America become the target of terrorism.
“We have a lot of students who come into this country every year,” she said. “It is sort of our responsibility, in a way, to make sure international students’ rights are protected.”
ISA also wants to raise awareness on the issue to prevent harassment or discrimination against students of Middle Eastern background.
At the ISA Coffee Hour, there will be a poster for students to sign to support a peaceful resolution for the attacks, Nair said. That poster will be circulated at other campus events and will then be sent to President George W. Bush.
Faculty members are also responding to the attacks. On Tuesday, Concerned Faculty for Peace and Justice, a group formed several years ago in opposition to the Persian Gulf War, will hold a “teach-in” from 7 to 9:30 p.m. in the EMU Ballroom.
History professor Daniel Pope, a member of the group, said the event will be a non-partisan discussion centering on education and reflection about the attacks. A schedule of speakers has not yet been set, he said.
As many groups hold their first meetings of the year in the next few weeks, other campus responses to the attacks may follow.
Kawezya Hutchinson, co-director of the Black Student Union, said the group has not discussed a response to the attacks because most members are just now returning to campus.
But she said she is optimistic that when students are back, the strong show of support in communities across the country will also be evident at the University.
“In the country you’ve just seen people come together so much,” she said. “Hopefully that will be true on this campus as well.”