Insight-Story 1

The Montclair State community joined the rest of the nation on Tuesday watching in unimaginable shock and horror the events that unfolded before our eyes when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center towers and crippled the Pentagon.

It was a paralyzing feeling, but many knew that the University, as a community, needed to spring into action to deal with the effects of this terrible tragedy.

Dean of Students Helen Matusow-Ayres said the reaction of one panic-stricken student prompted her to call a meeting of the University's Crisis Management Team. "She was in the hall hysterical because her boyfriend worked on an upper floor of the first tower," Matusow-Ayers said. "I began to understand and internalize what was going on."

Members of the Crisis Management Team gathered quickly and began to put plan into place. The campus was informed that the news broadcasts would be showing on televisions in College Hall, the Student Center and the residence hall lounges.

Freshmen Adam Cabagnaro and Linda Jimenez, music education majors, watch Tuesday’s events from the Rathskeller, one of several locations across campus where televisions showed the day’s events.

Counselors from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) were available at several viewing locations to help students, faculty and staff cope with this crisis. CAPS remained fully staffed with four full-time psychologists and three interns, and one part-time psychologist. Counselors also did a debriefing Tuesday evening with all Residence Life staff. CAPS has prepared information on Trauma Related Stress that was distributed to the campus community via e-mail. (Full text of article.)

By noon Tuesday, Telephone Services created a phone bank in the Student Center for students to try to contact loved ones. When telephone service became threatened, the University community was advised to utilize e-mail. Physical Plant was prepared to handle any emergencies, with crews continually checking generators and providing any necessary support to other campus departments. All emergency information and notices regarding services were posted and updated frequently on the University's Web site.

Nicolas Millan (left) and Adam Cabagnaro make calls from the emergency phone bank that was set up to help students get in touch with loved ones.

University Police, following New Jersey State Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco's orders for a state of emergency, heightened security throughout campus. "There was absolutely no threat to the campus community," Police Chief Paul Cell said. "It simply was a precautionary measure." The full force of 18 officers was called to duty to work around the clock. Two officers, Paul Giardino and Christopher Vidro, headed to the World Trade Center to assist on-site efforts. (Officer Vidro's eye-witness account of the collapse of building 7 and photo.)

Meanwhile, Montclair State's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) unit with four emergency medical technicians responded to a call for assistance at the George Washington Bridge, where they were ready to receive victims from the disaster for transport to hospitals in northern New Jersey.

Residence Life made arrangements to provide accommodations for anyone on campus who needed emergency housing. Seven faculty and one student were housed.

The University remained open throughout the day Tuesday, however classes after 5 p.m. were cancelled as were all athletic events. The University resumed a regular schedule on Wednesday. "The decision to continue the instructional program was driven by the knowledge that a significant proportion of our students are campus residents and by our need to begin to make sense of yesterday's events for our students and our campus," Provost Richard Lynde said in a letter distributed Wednesday morning. (Full text.) MSU President Susan A. Cole also explained why the University remained open in her letter to the campus community. "The University is a bulwark against ignorance and unreason, and my feelings suggested that, in the face of such events, it was not a day on which our doors should close…By keeping the University up and running to the fullest extent possible, we would have the ability to tend best to the thousands of students who live on the campus and to the thousands of other commuter students who were already here on campus." (Full text.) Many students agreed with the decision. "I think it was a good idea for them to keep classes going," said freshman Carmen Capozzi, a business administration major. "It kept our minds off everything happening."

Many faculty and students took the opportunity this week to talk about what happened and its impact on the nation and its people. "In my classes we tried to focus on people's reactions and the ethical issues," said Arleen Salles of Philosophy and Religion. (More about classroom discussions.) (Updated Sept. 18)

On Tuesday night, students, with the assistance of CAPS and University Police, organized a prayer and candlelight vigil in the Bohn/Blanton quad. Nearly 300 students attended the event.

On Wednesday, the Crisis Management Team held a second meeting and the University's Web site posted blood donation information. All American flags on campus were lowered to half-staff. The Montclarion came out with a special edition, "Disaster in America," and that evening President Cole addressed the Student Government Association. The SGA issued a proclamation, which will be hung next week in the SGA offices.

On Thursday, a two-hour Community Gathering for Unity was sponsored by the Unity Collaboration. Speakers including James Harris, associate dean for Student Development; President Susan A. Cole; Jeannette Mammaro, president of the Student Government Association; Todd Weinmann and Cherie Elfenbein of CAPS; Katherine Ellison of the Campus Ministry Council; and Rick Brown, director of Student Leadership Programs.

President Cole stressed the importance of the University as a community. "When something terrible happens, we turn to our homes and our hometowns," she said. "For many, that is Montclair State." Cole expressed her appreciation to all members of the campus community who are working to ease the pain for others. "Everybody did an extraordinary job and proved this community to be one that cares about people."

She also stressed the importance of not spreading the hate by judging people by the way they look and dress. "We need to look within our community and make sure we are treating each other fairly. Let us not contribute to the breeding of hatred on our campus."

She added: "We saw an act born out of profound hatred. And hatred is a product of ignorance. It is our job to stay here and assure our education and the education of others so that someday there will be a world where such acts born out of hatred and ignorance will no longer be."
President Cole spoke about compassion for those who have died, have been injured or are missing. Among the missing, she said, is the son of a faculty member.

"I am looking to you to set the example of how an intelligent, compassionate, rational community can deal with such tragedy."


9/14/2001	Montclair State mobilizes in response to national tragedy
	The Montclair State community joined the rest of the nation on Tuesday watching in unimaginable shock and horror the events that unfolded before our eyes when terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center towers and crippled the Pentagon. It was a paralyzing feeling, but many knew that the University, as a community, needed to spring into action to deal with the effects of this terrible tragedy. Dean of Students Helen Matusow-Ayres said the reaction of one panic-stricken student prompted her to call a meeting of the University's Crisis Management Team. "She was in the hall hysterical because her boyfriend worked on an upper floor of the first tower," Matusow-Ayers said. "I began to understand and internalize what was going on." Members of the Crisis Management Team gathered quickly and began to put plan into place. The campus was informed that the news broadcasts would be showing on televisions in College Hall, the Student Center and the residence hall lounges. Freshmen Adam Cabagnaro and Linda Jimenez, music education majors, watch Tuesday’s events from the Rathskeller, one of several locations across campus where televisions showed the day’s events. Counselors from Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) were available at several viewing locations to help students, faculty and staff cope with this crisis. CAPS remained fully staffed with four full-time psychologists and three interns, and one part-time psychologist. Counselors also did a debriefing Tuesday evening with all Residence Life staff. CAPS has prepared information on Trauma Related Stress that was distributed to the campus community via e-mail. (Full text of article.) By noon Tuesday, Telephone Services created a phone bank in the Student Center for students to try to contact loved ones. When telephone service became threatened, the University community was advised to utilize e-mail. Physical Plant was prepared to handle any emergencies, with crews continually checking generators and providing any necessary support to other campus departments. All emergency information and notices regarding services were posted and updated frequently on the University's Web site. Nicolas Millan (left) and Adam Cabagnaro make calls from the emergency phone bank that was set up to help students get in touch with loved ones. University Police, following New Jersey State Acting Governor Donald DiFrancesco's orders for a state of emergency, heightened security throughout campus. "There was absolutely no threat to the campus community," Police Chief Paul Cell said. "It simply was a precautionary measure." The full force of 18 officers was called to duty to work around the clock. Two officers, Paul Giardino and Christopher Vidro, headed to the World Trade Center to assist on-site efforts. (Officer Vidro's eye-witness account of the collapse of building 7 and photo.) Meanwhile, Montclair State's Emergency Medical Services (EMS) unit with four emergency medical technicians responded to a call for assistance at the George Washington Bridge, where they were ready to receive victims from the disaster for transport to hospitals in northern New Jersey. Residence Life made arrangements to provide accommodations for anyone on campus who needed emergency housing. Seven faculty and one student were housed. The University remained open throughout the day Tuesday, however classes after 5 p.m. were cancelled as were all athletic events. The University resumed a regular schedule on Wednesday. "The decision to continue the instructional program was driven by the knowledge that a significant proportion of our students are campus residents and by our need to begin to make sense of yesterday's events for our students and our campus," Provost Richard Lynde said in a letter distributed Wednesday morning. (Full text.) MSU President Susan A. Cole also explained why the University remained open in her letter to the campus community. "The University is a bulwark against ignorance and unreason, and my feelings suggested that, in the face of such events, it was not a day on which our doors should close…By keeping the University up and running to the fullest extent possible, we would have the ability to tend best to the thousands of students who live on the campus and to the thousands of other commuter students who were already here on campus." (Full text.) Many students agreed with the decision. "I think it was a good idea for them to keep classes going," said freshman Carmen Capozzi, a business administration major. "It kept our minds off everything happening." Many faculty and students took the opportunity this week to talk about what happened and its impact on the nation and its people. "In my classes we tried to focus on people's reactions and the ethical issues," said Arleen Salles of Philosophy and Religion. (More about classroom discussions.) (Updated Sept. 18) On Tuesday night, students, with the assistance of CAPS and University Police, organized a prayer and candlelight vigil in the Bohn/Blanton quad. Nearly 300 students attended the event. On Wednesday, the Crisis Management Team held a second meeting and the University's Web site posted blood donation information. All American flags on campus were lowered to half-staff. The Montclarion came out with a special edition, "Disaster in America," and that evening President Cole addressed the Student Government Association. The SGA issued a proclamation, which will be hung next week in the SGA offices. On Thursday, a two-hour Community Gathering for Unity was sponsored by the Unity Collaboration. Speakers including James Harris, associate dean for Student Development; President Susan A. Cole; Jeannette Mammaro, president of the Student Government Association; Todd Weinmann and Cherie Elfenbein of CAPS; Katherine Ellison of the Campus Ministry Council; and Rick Brown, director of Student Leadership Programs. President Cole stressed the importance of the University as a community. "When something terrible happens, we turn to our homes and our hometowns," she said. "For many, that is Montclair State." Cole expressed her appreciation to all members of the campus community who are working to ease the pain for others. "Everybody did an extraordinary job and proved this community to be one that cares about people." She also stressed the importance of not spreading the hate by judging people by the way they look and dress. "We need to look within our community and make sure we are treating each other fairly. Let us not contribute to the breeding of hatred on our campus." She added: "We saw an act born out of profound hatred. And hatred is a product of ignorance. It is our job to stay here and assure our education and the education of others so that someday there will be a world where such acts born out of hatred and ignorance will no longer be." President Cole spoke about compassion for those who have died, have been injured or are missing. Among the missing, she said, is the son of a faculty member. "I am looking to you to set the example of how an intelligent, compassionate, rational community can deal with such tragedy."
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