story218.xml

story218.xml

born-digital

story

yes

no

2002-03-11

The following I wrote around 1 am, Sept. 12 to friends and family in an e-mail. It has a certain "freshness" to it, almost like the smell of blood and fire is still with it, so little editing was done.

Still Bleeding

Everyone--
Today I did not have classes. I don't have classes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, so I decided to sleep in. Around 10:30 I awoke, hearing lots of swearing in my dorm. The guys in my dorm aren't very intelligent, but I felt a certain energy inside that I couldn't understand. So I turned on the TV. Before my face was images I, like you, shall never forget.
Quickly I ran to the bathroom to shave and shower myself. I knew I had to be in the newsroom as these tragic events unfolded. After cutting my chin quite badly, I threw on some clothes, put some gel in my hair and ran to the newsroom.
The Daily Kent Stater staff was already at work as I entered. The newsroom was crowded with editors, reporters and photographers making phone calls, looking on the Internet, beginning to compile a long day's worth of news.
We had calls from all over. A recently graduated newspaper student who works in Washington DC emailed us a very lengthy letter, which was converted into a poignant opinion piece. Our friends and family from the devastated areas poured in information throughout the afternoon. This was a large news event.
Though technically I am not a reporter, nor should I report because of my status as an editorial writer, I was assigned to do a local angle to the Associated Press general news article on the attacks. It was my duty to get reactions from local experts (i.e. Kent State professors).

Throughout the early afternoon I spoke with professors from the political science, history, business and NATO studies departments. From them I got a wealth of quotations. Unfortunately only a few of the quotations made it into my article, due to space limitations.
After speaking to them, I wanted to speak with an expert in domestic or international terrorism. A fellow staff person referred me to a former KSU professor for comment. I had the gentleman's home phone number, so I gave him a call. He refused comment. Though his former coworkers gave me comment, he refused to speculate, then hung up on me. He was not a very happy man.
Regardless, I was able to put together my article, which can be found at www.stater.kent.edu. You'll have to do some searching, as this website is constantly updated.
But while speaking with political science professors, they told me there would be a university wide meeting at 4 p.m. at the KIVA. (The KIVA is a smaller auditorium in our student center.)
At the meeting basic security issues were addressed, with the university president and other officials condemning the actions of the terrorists, but assuring us that we were/are safe. A moment of silence was held at the beginning of the conference.
During the meeting a girl, just to the upper right hand side of me, was sobbing. Her head was buried in the side of her friend. Glenn, a Stater photographer, took a picture of her. After the meeting Glenn went to her to get her name for the photo caption. She refused to give it to him. A guy with the crying girl threatened Glenn.
As I headed out of the meeting, Glenn grabbed me and explained the situation, and asked if I could try to get her name. Being the daring journalist that I am I went to her, waited for her friends to leave and spoke to her.
The girl's name is Allysa. She has family stuck in and around the building struck in New York. Thankfully she had been able to communicate with them through the Internet and found out that they were okay. Allysa was still shaken by the events. With a bit of empathy, I was able to obtain the information from her. Now she is a possible day after story for Thursday's newspaper. The photo that Glenn took will run tomorrow.
This has been one of the most trying days as a reporter I have ever had. I have a feeling in terms of magnitude this will be one of the biggest tragedies I will ever cover as a journalist.
As I write this letter, it's nearly 1am. I can't sleep. My mind is still spinning with thoughts.
The goals of terrorism are actually quite simple: all a terrorist wants to do is disrupt the lives of average people through senseless acts of violence. They want you to be afraid.
Whoever the terrorists are, they have been successful. The unending coverage of the events on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, and every network is illustrative of their effectiveness. Take a walk across campus or town and glum faces are everywhere. Everyone has been affected. For the moment, the terrorists have seemingly won their battle.
However, I believe that we all need to get on with our normal lives. With proceeding forward, we will win the battle. All Americans need to get up, go to work, eat at McDonalds, and basically proceed forward like business as usual. This will be beneficial in so many ways.
The dead should be mourned. The United States will strike back with a vengeance never seen before. But we as common people must move forward. We need to heal, and part of healing is moving forward. Reflect tomorrow, but remember that tomorrow is a whole new day. A whole new day of hope.
Live life like you never have before. God has blessed all of you with life. Use it well. Love one another. Help eradicate what has brought this tragedy: hate.
What amazes me is the American reaction, both good and bad. People are pouring into blood banks to help. Religious leaders are meeting with people trying to give them some kind of answer. Millions of people have poured their support whither it be through a newspaper column (had to pat myself on the back), record blood donations, or through a simple hug to a family member. We are bound tightly together. Our humanity prevails.
However I am concerned with the recent price gouging at the gas stations. I am concerned about families running to Tops to stock up on supplies. Neither acts are necessary. Gas prices are rising because so many people are running to the pumps based on rumor. Some believe the Middle Eastern countries will cut back their oil supplies. OPEC has continually promised to keep gas shipments the same. This makes economic sense. Why would they cut supply and hurt their own business? Give this a week, if even, and gas prices will return to normal. The gouging is very, very illegal and won't last.
Don't run to Tops to get supplies. This only causes more panic. We'll be fine. Panic is a bad thing.
And very importantly, especially to those at places where international persons are living or visiting: DO NOT BLAME THEM. DO NOT FEAR THEM. They are just as scared as we are. They do not need to be scared of us.
I cannot emphasize this point enough. American history has many ugly stories where zealous Americans have attacked its foreign population in retribution of international leaders' politics. Remember the Japanese internment camps during World War II. Remember the recent attacks on Arabians storeowners. Many more examples mar the pages of US history. If you hear anyone saying foolish things about foreigners in this country, correct them. This kind of xenophobic sentiment should not be tolerated. Hate does not over come hate.
Well, this helped get all of my thoughts on paper (an electronic sort.) I hope you all have a good tomorrow (or today as you read it.) Please excuse the size of this email, but these events are enormous and cannot be contained in a few words. Even a reporter needs some good old therapy, perhaps through a lengthy email.

We'll be fine again...soon enough.

I think I'm going to go to sleep,
Nick