Five years ago today, our nation was shaken to its core. The words 9/11” still send a chilling ring to our ears. Most of us had never experienced a crisis that turned our lives and our nation so abruptly onto such an uncertain course. The freedom that we cherish so deeply increased our vulnerability to indiscriminate slaughter. Even with all the uncertainties about what would happen right after the attack, a new uncharted course for our nation was certain. We were destabilized about what others might do to us and even about what we might do ourselves. This instability brought people across the nation together. Members of Congress stood together and sang God Bless America. On September 12th, thousands of us stood together on McKeldin Mall to mourn the losses of our university family members and of thousands of innocent Americans who perished in the brutal attack on our homeland. This coming together gave us the opportunity to reaffirm our unity and our values. We also gained balance and strength that helped us move forward.After five years, the unity, balance and strength that are needed to protect our values are no less needed today. On this anniversary, I ask you to take a moment to think about that "spirit on the mall" that helped us five years ago. It can help guide us from here into our still uncertain future. Partisan, philosophical and other differences may seem more important now than they did on 9/11, but our shared faith in our values and system is needed to carry us through divisive times.
Take a moment to mourn the thousands of innocents and the first responders who perished on that day. These thoughts will ground us about what we are struggling against.
I ask that everyone all across campus take a moment at noon today, Monday, September 11, to reflect silently in your own individual way on the meaning and implications of September 11th to you. I hope that you will again feel the spirit and power of unity.
C. D. Mote, Jr., President