Community Revisited

Community, whether large or small, can be defined as a group of people with a common interest. This definition, however, remains small and inadequate to describe our post - Sept. 11 world.

Community, be it religious, national, familial, occupational, or academic, remains an outlet for dealing with tragic events. The importance of community resounds in the aftermath of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

"Sept. 11 has become a defining moment in history. As long as there are people who are around who experienced it, we will remember the world as before Sept. 11 and after Sept. 11," said Michael Zarkin, director of the Hillel of Buffalo. "It's a raw wound that may hurt less over time, but it's never going to feel good."

The anniversary will be one of common experience and reflection of the events of the past year. Many students will spend the day within their individual communities. But according to some, the focus should remain broader.

"I think as a nation, we have to reach out to the world community. The communities within America are trying to cope as best as they can," said Lecturer Terry Cuddy, a graduate student in the media studies department.

The many communities that make up this university, this city, this country and this world have made continuing efforts to preserve a sense of peace, healing, and support.

Anne Tupper, a Catholic campus minister, notes that immediately after the attacks, attendance at services rose for all denominations of the Campus Ministry.

"We can be people who are peacemakers . we can be supported and support others . we tried to give more opportunities for prayer and reflection," she said.

Zarkin predicts that many Jewish students and faculty will be lighting candles to mark the anniversary of the tragedy.

"In the Jewish tradition, we are fortunate to have a very ritualized tradition for mourning," he said.

Those communities focused on creative expression have found resolution by other means.

"I think the art community has been on its guard in trying to find ways to deal and express itself in the wake of the tragedy," said Cuddy. "The art community has been helpful in organizing alternatives to what we see on the news."

Even though the solutions for coping with the grief and fear of Sept. 11 are diversified, the response to what should be learned is similar.

"Even though we ritualize our beliefs in different ways, we work together," said Tupper.

Across campus and across the world today, many will work together.

"People are going to feel closer because of the shared experience," said Zarkin.

Students at UB will undoubtedly continue to re-examine their roles in their personal lives as well as their roles in the world.

"My parents seemed to have missed me more, being from NYC they had felt extremely disconnected from me during the attacks and seemed to really resent that ... which makes coming home for me to them really important," said junior Matt Smith, a media studies major. "(I also) feel like my friendships have deepened since Sept. 11."

Junior psychology major Meghan Baxter said, "I think that a lot of people are not so negative towards each other. Families have become closer."

Although our individual roles are very different, we are all part of the same community of people who experienced Sept. 11, and who will always remember it.

Today, when we are in our own communities, among our own friends, we will remember there are others who share the hope that this day and our community will never be forgotten.