Campus organizations will host a series of events next week in commemoration of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorists attacks.
The Union Programming Council, along with co-presenters Associated Students of the University Utah and the Presenter's Office, hosts the events that will be part of a week-long program entitled "Beyond Tolerance."
"The event is structured to help people move beyond what happened on Sept. 11," said Kris Cannon, organizer of the event.
One year ago, a shockwave was sent through the U campus when news of the attacks hit the airwaves. Students crowded around TVs to watch live coverage, some classes were canceled and 3,000 people gathered at the Park Building steps for a candlelight vigil to honor the victims of the attacks.
During the general state of disbelief and confusion about who may have been responsible for the attacks, international students, especially Muslims, worried about backlash.
The events next week will ask people to reflect on the attacks and the feelings they had in the aftermath of Sept. 11.
"Sept. 11 is the impetus for the events, but the goal is to help people move beyond tolerance and acceptance and celebrate the differences of people in our country," Cannon said.
The week-long program will begin with an interfaith series on Monday where representatives from various faiths will speak. The purpose is to explain how to understand and accept other faiths.
On Sept. 11, a moment of silence will be observed at noon on the Union Patio, and at 8 p.m., a candlelight vigil will take place at the Park Building. Among those scheduled to speak are Ted Wilson, political science professor, and U President Bernie Machen.
The week's events will culminate with a presentation by keynote speaker Tim Wise. Wise is a nationally acclaimed anti-racist activist who has spoken on more than 275 college campuses, including Stanford University, Yale Law School and Harvard University. He has also trained various organizations on methods for dealing with racism in their institutions.
For further information you can contact Kris Cannon at KruzinKris@msn.com.
jgoldsmith@chronicle.utah.edu
