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September 10, 2021
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AUCollegian ashlandcollegian thecollegian volume D, issue II
May we never forget: 9/11/2001 The voices of students and alumni speak out to reflect on the tragedy 20 years later GRACIE WILSON Collegian Managing Editor Twenty years ago, the world watched in horror as the world trade center was attacked on an otherwise average day in September. Now, this day is held in remembrance for all the lives lost two decades ago. Many who witnessed the event of that day can now recall exactly where they were when the planes at the world trade center crashed, but for the current students and recent alumni of Ashland University, 9/11 is a hazier memory because many were too young to remember or were not born yet. As a result, students and alumni at AU use this 20-year mark to reflect on what this day means to them, as well as what tragedies the world faces now that will be the great remembrance of this generation. “It’s crazy to me that this is the
people. The event itself may have been a tragedy, but the outreach people had for one another was amazing. I believe that the coronavirus pandemic (go figure) will be the next monumental event. We have struggled with this in the past few years, but…people have tried their best to help and has showed the true goodness within people.” Jared Metz, Senior
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“Each year as 9/11 approaches my thoughts are with the family members who lost loved ones that day. At the same time, I’m conscious of the hate that Muslim Americans received after this tragedy. On this day, I’m reflective of the past and hopeful for future peace.” Tyler Easton, Senior
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“9/11 is a dual tragedy. The immediate tragedy of that day was the destruction of numerous lives and the suffering of noble first responders who chose love, duty and bravery above safety. The lasting tragedy has been the change in American culture since that day. 9/11 turned us into the worst versions of ourselves - a nation that accepts constant war and revenge…rampant distrust of people who look and act different from ourselves, and a love affair with state power in the name of national security. Gen X and Millennials saw 9/11 and learned the lessons distrust and revenge. We now see during Covid-19 that those vices are not going to take us cleanly through tragedy. Hopefully, Generation Z will be able to look back on the tragedy of the pandemic and learn a better lesson of collective struggle and solidarity…” Konrad Hodgeman, Senior
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“9/11 is difficult for me to attach meaning, because I was so young during it. It’s hard to grasp the true tragedy of it when you are blissfully playing with action figures in the next room. 9/11 shows me the best and worst within
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“To me, 9/11 is a remembrance of all the lives lost. We look back and mourn the people who were just trying to go to work like any other day and honor the first responders who went above and beyond to save as many people as they could. I feel an event that will be looked back upon for generations will be the legalization of gay marriage. It was such a positive and overdue step for this country to make, and made sure that LGBTQ+ members are able to be legally joined in marriage.-Matthew Plumb, Senior
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20th anniversary of the attack. I believe it is my responsibility to continue passing down stories to the generation who was not alive when 9/11 happened. As a daughter of a U.S. Marine, my patriotism has always stood proud and tall. This day reminds me of a time when-just for a little while-our country came together.” Christine Jenkinson, Class of 2020
exactly and how shocked I was.” Dean Paolucci, Senior
“It’s a time of unity. A time where we all stand together and remember all those that we lost and the brave men and women who were first responders or assisted in helping people on that day. I feel as though the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting was one I will never forget. I do not remember 9/11 vividly, but Sandy Hook, I remember where I was
“Even though I was not born yet, 9/11 changed the way I grew up. Before 9/11, security checks weren’t frequent, and you could easily get on a plane or go to a concert without having to go through tons of security checks. Even though 9/11 was a great tragedy, it made America take great precautions and I ended up growing up in a safer place.” Karley Sauder, Sophomore
*** “I have been blessed in the fact that nobody extremely close to me was affected by the tragedy of 9/11. However, when this date comes around each year, it is a time that I step back and reflect on how my life and the lives of people I love can change in an instant. I believe that we should all try and do this each day and not take a single moment with our loved ones for granted, but 9/11 is one of those days where it’s hard not to… think about all of your personal blessings. I believe that the lockdown in spring of 2020 will be a time that many of us will not forget. Although it was very rough for those who contracted/knew people that contracted COVID-19… it was a time that we all got closer to the ones that were in lockdown with us. We explored new hobbies that we never had the time to do and learned new things about ourselves.” Bethany Bacus, Senior
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“9/11 was a day where America came together, no matter who you were. All together the world watched as innocent lives of people were lost, and any differences we had didn’t matter. People got up that day, had their normal cup of coffee, fed their children, walked to work and had no idea the horror that was coming next. As the daughter of a firefighter, I am always thankful for the bravery of those men and women because I see the bravery that takes when my dad comes and goes from work each day; and they had families with children they never got to come home to after saving countless other lives.” Gracie Wilson, Senior
my parents told me that afterwards everyone—no matter their background—came together and supported each other. I think that this generation’s big event is the COVID-19 Pandemic. People will always remember how eerie it was when we first went into lockdown and how different the world became overnight.” Raegan Schafer, Class of 2021
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I was almost two when 9/11 happened. My mom and I were at the doctors office, waiting for me to get my shots, when my mother saw the news on TV. She remembers feeling complete terror, thinking the world may end. 9/11 is a day in history that no one will ever forget. We remember those who tragically passed and those who risked their lives to save others. I think the Columbine shooting will be a tragedy that will stay with our generation forever. There have unfortunately been many school shootings the past ten years, and they still happen today.” Katie Foster, Junior
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“I was only 18 months old when this happened, so my memory may be a little foggy. 9/11 is a date that will live in infamy, and it served as a motivator to increase safety as a country. I think this generation’s monumental tragedy was the sandy hook shooting, that event I think spurred the awareness of gun safety in schools.” Nate Powalie, Senior
“9/11 to me, means a lot. It’s important to remember the past so we don’t make the same mistakes. It’s also very difficult for me to just ignore it. It is a tragic event that NEEDS to be shown to the public. I think this generation’s monumental tragedy would be that a lot of people are so focused on getting what they want instead of balancing that and looking out for your fellow human beings.” Vincent Cope, Freshman
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“It is a painful reminder to not take our freedom or life for granted. We forgot to be grateful for the simple pleasures that we have and 9/11 gave us a heartbreaking reality check. This generation’s monumental event is covid. We will look back and wonder why we were so opposed to wearing masks and be horrified by the lack of respect for others’ lives.” Elanor Lohr, Sophomore
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“Even though I was only two years old when the tragedy occurred, I grew up with the stories of those who experienced it. My parents told me that when it happened, they went home and hugged me and my newborn brother very tightly. It was such an unsure time for all Americans, but
I wasn’t even 3 years old when the September 11 attacks took place. I remember sitting crosslegged on the floor watching the news the night before the third anniversary and feeling fearful because for the first time I realized that my parents couldn’t protect me. I watched footage of ordinary people jumping from skyscrapers, but they weren’t sprouting wings and flying like the superheroes I loved to watch on TV. September 11, 2001, symbolizes a day where I had to let go of some childish thinking far too early and turn to prayer...A few years later, my little sister was born on September 11, and for my family, I think she helped brighten an otherwise gloomy day.” Avaerie Fitzgerald, Class of 2021
In this issue: Changes come to Student Dining
Trevor Bassit goes to Olympic trials,
Page A3
Today’s Headlines on
Catch the CAB, Page A8
Page A6
Mike Pence to come to
Ashland local business
AU, speak to Ashbrook
spotlight: A-Town Tap
Scholars
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