Month of events to honor Sept. 11

By: Jill Boucher/Contributing Writer

The 10 year anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks marks a milestone in American history. In only minutes thousands of lives were lost.

As a globally conscious institution, the University is looking to commemorate that event and help the University community put 9/11 into perspective on a personal and global scale. “Unity/Diversity: Reflecting on the Meaning of 9/11” is a series of week long  events sponsored by the Office of Global Learning Initiative, taking place from Sept. 6 through Sept. 11 with ongoing month long events from Sept. 22 to Sept. 30. Events will be held on the Modesto Maidique and Biscayne Bay Campus.

“September 11 happened to everyone, so everyone has a story,” said Stephanie Doscher, associate director of the office of global learning, who is in charge of organizing the events. “Members broadly representing all units and students helped put this together.”

The week will be packed with stories of firsthand experiences, musical presentations, readings and guest speakers.

Michael Fineo, a survivor who was inside Tower 1, spoke on Sept. 6 about his experience of being inside the World Trade Center. His presentation took place on both campuses as he shared his personal struggles with surviving the tower’s collapse, while so many did not.

The Office of Global Learning Initiatives considered all students while planning the week’s events. Doscher stressed the importance of creating events that cater to every student.

“It was important to have both scholarly and artistic events for people to choose from,” said Doscher. “People really wanted this event to happen and a lot of the guests contacted us about participating during the week.”

Out of the 25 events spaced out throughout the week, at least three directly relate to global citizenship and discrimination some ethnicities still bare due to the attacks.

Asad Ba-Yunus, former assistant state attorney, will take the audience through a journey of discovering what Islamophobia is. Current issues that Muslim-Americans endure will be discussed in a dialogue between those participating – its main discussion component will be what has changed for Muslim-Americans prior to and after 9/11.

On Sept. 9, the Graham Center Commemorative Ceremony is set to be one of the organization’s biggest events. Students, faculty and staff will gather to honor the fallen victims of 9/11, the heroes and armed forces.

The day will start by the flag area, located outside of the main GC entrance in front Primera Casa, for a half-mast ceremony. There will also be a candle vigil and Commemoration and Reflection at the GC fountain.

“We wanted people to stop and think and reflect on the meaning of 9/11 both then and now,” said Doscher.

Along with University students and staff, community members and political figures are expected to attend the Sept. 9 ceremony.

Those in attendance will include Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Florida State Senator Anitere Flores, Executive Assistant U.S. Attorney Marcus Christian, U.S. Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Florida State Senator Gwen Margolis.

To wrap up the week’s events, the Wertheim Performing Arts Center at MMC will host “A Sufi Approach to Healing 9/11.”

Celebrating unity and diversity, the afternoon will showcase music, poetry, songs and whirling by Sufi dervishes, whose unique dance is considered to be spiritual as well as peaceful.

With several functions that celebrate tolerance and unity of the world, it is Doscher’s hope that these events will bring the students together while remembering the past.

“It will be a rich experience where everyone can participate in at least one thing,” she said.

For a complete list of events, go to Global Learning’s 9/11 page.