A small turnout didn’t stop students, faculty and friends of West Chester University, including about a dozen West Chester police officers and firefighters, from gathering in the academic quad to remember the tragedies that took place on September 11, 2001.Speaking first was West Chester University President Dr. Madeleine Adler. Adler spoke briefly about the world that we live in, but allowed more time for the other speaker, SGA President Kyle Mullins. With a voice that almost cracked every time his speech turned emotional, Mullins urged us as a school and a country to “heal, but never forget.”
SGA President Kyle Mullins reminded the crowd of about 120 that September 11 is still a very important day. “We can’t forget what those attacks [.] attacks that destroyed lives, buildings and dreams,” Mullins said during his prepared address.
Scott Joblin, a local firefighter for the past 13 years, said the day was for remembering the “343 brothers I lost.” The loss of those brothers has been constantly documented as of late, with feature films, mini-series and documentaries. Joblin admits he feels the people making these tributes are really just exploiting the dead.
Ironically, United 93, a fictionalized account of the hijacked plane that was forcefully brought down by passengers in Shanksville, Penn., was chosen as the after speech entertainment. While some felt it bizarre, those in charge of the event held that it was an “important movie to see” and that it displayed “the bravery that it is to be American.