story907.xml

story907.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-07-18

Around 10:05 AM I was listening to a story on Books-On-Tape as usual on my morning commute from home to George Mason University. I had a strange feeling come over me that the story was not important, so I turned off the tape and hit the news to learn about the crashes into the World Trade Center.

I parked and walked toward class seeing a group of students gathered outside of the classroom building. They tried to tell me the news and asked if class was cancelled. Since I already heard about road closings near the Pentagon in a later news report before arriving at school, I decided on the spot that it would be best if we went inside and held class. In the classroom, we turned on the tv, but could only get sound and no pictures. About 80% of the class was there at the starting time at 10:30.

First I asked if anyone had relatives at the Pentagon--six had relatives, mostly uncles and cousins. Since the cell phone system was not taking calls, the students did not know what to do. I mentioned that upward to 33,000 work at the Pentagon, so we will hope that no one of those known were in the section where the crash was held.

My first task was to do a typical communication exercise during crisis situations--how did you learn about it. I was surprised that the plurality was first a person [family member, friend, etc.], second was the radio, and third was TV. No print was out yet...

Then we heard a plane had crashed near Summerset, PA. One of the students was from there and his parents lived near there. I had him try to call on land lines, and use my phone in my office if needed. He came back in 10 minutes--not being able to get through. I told him to take a time period, like every 10 minutes and slip out to try. He had no luck.

Then we discussed how rumors would be natural and discussed how journalists verify observations. At the time a bomb was suppossedly set in a car at the State Department. Several students had relatives working there.

We heard reports about the roads closing and people walking across the bridges. One of my students got through on her phone to her dad who wanted her to drive home to Maryland through the disrict. I suggested she stay on campus as the district would be closed down and if more attacks would occur they would probably be in the district.

Some students decided to leave as the tension was to great. By 11:15 am I was down to half the class. Around 11:25, 20 minutes before the end of class, the tension was so great and the discussion seemed to wither, so en masse, they all got up and left.

I went home and had lunch with my wife and then returned to campus at 1:30 in case students were around and I did have a 4:30 class, which was cancelled later in the afternoon by the university closing down. I stayed until 4:45 and then headed home. Several times I say administrators walking through the building. It was reassuring to see them.