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We first and foremost want to express our heartfelt and most sincere sympathies to the students of RPI and our extended community. We are overcome with fear and uncertainty. With this letter we are making a very personal plea for calm. Many of us feel angry, sad, horrified, infuriated, and scared. We ask that students be patient with each others’ ways of expressing grief, understanding that people show emotion in different ways.
It is unacceptable to misdirect anger toward innocent individuals and groups. There is a natural tendency to become confused and look for a direction in which to lash out. If we are to maintain our pride in being decent human beings, we must not let this impulse take over. We must bear in mind that those people around us, regardless of their backgrounds and origins, are as innocent as those victims in New York and Washington.
RPI is unique in its diversity of student population, in regards to race, religion, socio-economic origin, sexual identity, and many other factors. We are a unified campus in our pursuit of academic excellence and strength of character. Historically we have always worked well together, despite our many differences and interests. It is our greatest hope that we will continue to do so.
In closing, we wish to direct attention towards two specific groups. The first are the volunteers, organizers, and donors involved with the Red Cross blood drive. They accomplished an amazing amount of work despite logistical limitations. We applaud them. The second group is the RPI students who belong to military reserves and have been mobilized at this time to New York City. Our thoughts and best wishes are with them.
Senate Resolution September 11, 2001
As the Student Senate of RPI, we call for the campus at large to come together in unity and support each other with tolerance and compassion. Regardless of future findings, we stress that no single group on campus—ethnic, religious, political, or other—will be allowed to be victimized or targeted. We deplore the acts of destruction that occurred on September 11 and will not permit ourselves to be defeated by stooping to the level of blind hate and violence that caused these incidents. We stand committed to represent and uphold the best in human behavior—empathy, dignity, and mutual respect. In whatever way we are able we will assist students, faculty, and staff at RPI, as one diverse and healthy community.
Senate Resolution passed September 11, 2001 at 10:47 pm unanimously.
Resources
The following is a brief—and by no means complete—list of resources that may be of interest to campus members looking to assist with efforts in regards to this tragedy, or seek counseling:
* 1-800-GIVE-LIFE and http://www.redcross.org/
* Today at 33 Everett Road there will be a blood drive, and there will be another on September 17 or 18 on campus.
* HSBC is currently collecting donations for the Red Cross efforts.
* Counseling will be available tomorrow between 9 am 11 am in the Union, and all day in the Counseling Center. All campus chaplains will be available.
