A message from President Jay Gogue

This Thursday, Sept. 11, marks the second anniversary of the terrible events that shocked this great nation. Our University will hold several events that day as part of our Day of Remembrance and Harmony.

Many of our international students, faculty, and staff come to us from countries that experience frequent acts of terrorism, civil war, and lawlessness. The shocking scenes of Sept. 11, 2001, showed in an awful way that no country is safe from the evils of this world. Yet, the terror attacks on this land of the free proved to ourselves and to the whole world that we, indeed, are the home of the brave. As we remember the victims of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon, and the airplanes, we cannot forget the bravery of the first responders who saw their challenges and heroically performed their duties.

This University also displayed its bravery. Our students, faculty, and staff did not succumb to easy displays of anger and did not participate in senseless acts of revenge. Instead, we turned to each other to find comfort and strength, and we reached out to give blood and to offer whatever aid and comfort that was possible.

Our incredible display of kindness and concern was not a one-day thing; we do this every day. Our University is a wonderful example of an international community whose members know the value of working and living together to achieve common goals and realize uncommon dreams.

Please join me Thursday to pay our respects to the victims of Sept. 11 and to all the victims of terrorism and war, and to reaffirm our commitment to a better and safer world for ourselves and future generations.