Hours after terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, Shirley Tilghman announced one of her first major decisions as University president: Classes would begin as scheduled two days later, and campus life would go on.
One year later, a glance at campus responses to Sept. 11, 2001 — in the form of service programs, panel discussions and related classes — shows that the community has produced hope from the tragedy with which it continues to come to terms.
The immediate response
Like almost every American, President Tilghman remembers where and when she first heard the news — in her office while watching television. She recalls too the eerie emptiness of campus as students, faculty and staff flocked to news sources, and the decisions she had to make.
"I remember walking around campus that night and being struck by how many people were inside, frozen in front of televisions," Tilghman said. "I didn't know how many days we could take, sitting in front of TVs, seeing those images."
Tilghman knew she needed to find a plan of action before addressing the newly arrived Class of 2005 that evening. Though they realized the continuation of activities would be difficult for students whose family members or friends had been victims of the attacks, Tilghman and her cabinet thought it necessary to push onward.
"I felt at the time that if we allowed our schedule to be disturbed, the terrorists would have achieved one of their goals," she said. She issued an e-mail announcing her decision that evening.
Bob Durkee '69, vice president of public affairs, took part in the discussions that led to that decision and the measures taken soon after.
Over the course of the week, he said, the communications office established a crisis response center and hotline in the Frist Campus Center, and a homepage with updated information. The Alumni Council scrambled to learn how many alumni had been killed in attacks. Once they discovered the final number, 13, a memorial service was held on Friday, Sept. 16.
"There has never been a day in Princeton's history when so many alumni have died in the same day," Tilghman said.
After the service, Durkee said, the community seemed to begin its search for understanding.
"Many found it moving and very helpful as they tried to come to terms with what had happened," he said. "Out of that grew a number of discussions that took place on campus."
Thirst for understanding
"[Sept. 11] colored the first half of the year for every single person, I think," Tilghman said. "It left a lingering thirst for understanding. There wasn't a single lecture or panel [on Sept. 11 topics] that wasn't packed."
To quench that thirst, Tilghman said, different parts of the University rallied intellectually to put the tragedy into a rational frame. Departments all over campus organized panel discussions ranging from the Wilson School's examination of the terrorist attacks and U.S. strikes against Afghanistan to the economics department's evaluation of the economy after Sept. 11.
Existing classes like NES 240: The United States and the Middle East and NES 338: The Arab-Israeli Conflict tailored their syllabi and saw large increases in enrollment. New courses, like WWS 594H: Counter-terrorism and Foreign Policy After 9/11/01 sprung up to deal with more specific questions.
This fall, the trend toward examination of last year's terrorist incidents and their wake continues. On Monday, an exhibit of art influenced by the attacks, "After September 11," opened in the Berstein Gallery. This fall, a Wilson School task force will focus on homeland security.
This afternoon, a Wilson School panel, "Legacies of Sept. 11: Priorities and Challenges," will feature a discussion among several professors from the school in addition to the politics and economics departments.
Professor Frederick Hitz, lecturer of public and international affairs and director of the Project on International Intelligence, plans to discuss civil liberties questions pertaining to the year since Sept. 11. He considers the panel "a follow-up to the teach-ins" the Wilson School has already held, "an appropriate bringing up to date." He foresees similar panels in the future on such topics as the situation in Iraq.
Taking Action
Another response to the events of Sept. 11 has been an effort to help those grieving and remember those who died.
Four University programs grew out of the discussions and desire to aid those directly affected by the attacks, Durkee said. Funding is available for faculty and staff members researching the renewal or rebuilding of New York City.
Also, Arts Alive, coordinated by the University, the Class of 2004 and the Performing Arts Council, gives children from affected New York City public schools the chance to see Broadway shows, visit museums and take part in educational workshops.
"It was amazing to see Princeton students really embrace the opportunity to volunteer in the aftermath of Sept. 11," wrote Maureen Monagle '04, class secretary and co-chair of Arts Alive, in an e-mail. "The program took 10,700 students affected by Sept. 11 to live arts events."
Another measure to aid those affected by Sept. 11 is the Princeton-Blairstown Project, through which families coping with loss or trauma are able to go on healing retreats and receive counseling. Between 10 and 15 families have been invited to attend the first overnight, which will begin tomorrow.
In honor of public service heroes, the University has also founded the Justice Scholarship at New York's John Jay College of Criminal Justice, which will help defray the cost of college for 10 students studying criminal justice and public service.
The University has given a total of $1 million to the four service projects.
Another University project is a memorial garden for the 13 alumni lost in the Sept. 11 attacks. A memorial service was held last winter, but the University wants to create a lasting tribute.
Tilghman added that putting their names on the walls of the memorial atrium in Nassau Hall — reserved for those lost in battle — did not seem appropriate.
The University community continues to reflect on the events of one year ago, and through a thirst for understanding and a will to help others, some of the paralyzing images on a television screen have been turned into scholarships, arts workshops for children and intellectual growth.
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