Letter to the Editor: College Republicans write to President Williams about 9/11

Dear President Williams,

As young adults coming of age in an era marked by domestic and international conflict and the threat of global terrorism, we are appalled by the recent failure of Muhlenberg College to acknowledge the 15-year anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The events of that day have caused it to become one of the single most defining moments of our lifetimes, and this date holds particular significance for many Muhlenberg students who hail from the greater New York area. As a campus, we are still impacted by the tragedy of that day and the memories of the nearly 3,000 Americans who lost their lives.

For years, the College has memorialized 9/11 with emails acknowledging the tragedy, vigils in honor of those who lost their lives, and the ringing of the bells to mark the time between when the first tower of the World Trade Center was hit and the second tower. This year, there was no such remembrance, not even an email acknowledging what day it was. The only forms of memorial at Muhlenberg were those organized by individual groups such as the 9/11 Flag Memorial on the College Green that we, the College Republicans, have orchestrated every year since the attacks.

In our opinion, the sudden failure of the College to remember these events in conjunction with the arrival of your administration indicates a conscious decision to forgo even the most basic form of patriotism on this day. It has also come to our attention that when confronted with the concerns of an individual student over the lack of memorial, your justification was that “so many have died for our freedom in so many other places on so many other days.” While every individual life lost is a tragedy in its own right, the events of Sept. 11 were the most devastating attack on American soil since Pearl Harbor—should we forget that too?

What disappoints us is that up to this point, your administration has been extremely proactive in encouraging members of the campus community to be concerned and diligent global citizens. For these efforts, we commend you. However, within the context of your rhetoric, the handling of 9/11has shown a distinct failure in the application of these principles. How can global citizens neglect to remember the catalyst of the war between global jihad and the free world?

We refuse to forget. We will not forsake the families and loved ones of the people who died on Sept. 11. We will not distract ourselves from remembering that terrible day when terrorists undermined our faith in our national security by taking out some of the nation’s most iconic buildings, filled with innocent civilians, with airplanes full of yet more innocent victims. To even suggest that the pain felt by our nation should be forgotten because death is essentially an everyday occurrence is a personal affront to all those who died, lost loved ones, and sacrificed their time and health in the relief effort. We, the members of Muhlenberg College Republicans, condemn the decision to ignore this day of national tragedy.

We understand that in your position as a new president, you want to leave your own mark on the school by taking it in new directions. This may at times call for the rejection of traditions and uprooting of conventions. However, the remembrance of Sept. 11 is a tradition that should not be tossed aside, but held close to our hearts. 9/11 was an awakening for many of us, an event that caused us to come to terms with concepts of life and death. Childhood ends the moment you realize that you are going to die, and we are a generation of innocence lost in the towers’ fall. We ask that going forward the campus acknowledge and remember 9/11 by resuming the practice of ringing the bells.

Best Regards,

Muhlenberg College Republicans