Rather than continue with the celebration, President Leo M. Lambert spoke briefly and then called on Chaplain Richard McBride to lead students, faculty and staff in prayer.

After College Coffee, members of the Elon community tried to absorb the news by gathering in front of televisions and calling loved ones on cell phones. Buck McGregor, associate professor of accounting, says he hasn’t felt this way since President Kennedy was assassinated.

“I told my class this morning that I would understand if they didn’t feel like they could stay,” he says. “It’s going to be a dark day in the history of the world.”

John Burbridge, dean of the Love School of Business, also had a strong reaction to the news, as he has a son who lives in lower Manhattan. “It’s just horrific,” he says, adding that he got the call that his son is okay.

Freshman Mike McKenna, who is from Boston, says the attacks are making him suspicious of air travel. “It makes me think about the security and all the flights I’ve been on lately,” he says.

Other students also expressed concern about travel. Courtney Russell, a senior who’s originally from New York, says her cell phone has been ringing off the hook. She was supposed to fly to New York later this week for her birthday. “I don’t even know if I’m getting up there,” she says. “I’m just shaken up because I’m supposed to fly. Everybody’s shaken up.”

Like many people across campus, Teresa Walker, secretary in the Love School of Business, says she never imagined that something like this could happen. “I just thought they kept better tabs on that stuff,” she says. “I’m obviously very naïve as far as the security goes. With the Pentagon, I’ve just always thought of it as a controlled space.”

Phyllis Phillips, secretary in the School of Communications, agrees. “This is not supposed to be happening to us,” she says.

Many students and faculty gathered in the lobby of McEwen to watch the events unfold on the TV, which is usually tuned to CNN. Phillips says many students have asked to call their parents, and they have been letting them use the office phones.

Pamela Baker, also a secretary in the School of Communications, says that many of these students were upset, since they have family in New York or Washington.

“I’m just wondering if we’ve still got more to come,” she says. “We all need to be in prayer.”

Richard Keene, a senior who is taking political science classes this semester, says he is curious to see how the country will react to today’s events. “It will be interesting to see how people’s perspectives will change (toward terrorism),” he says.

Students working at the information desk in Moseley Center were busy answering calls and questions Tuesday morning. Erin Cunningham says that when she got to work at 10:45, people were crowded around the TV in complete shock.

Jessica Sabo, a senior from Connecticut, says her mom called this morning to let her know about the tragedy. “I’ve got a friend who’s a New York City cop right now,” she says. “I’m sure he’s out there.”

Lauren Vilis, a junior from Charlotte, was supposed to go to a music-radio conference in New York tomorrow. “It’s so gruesome just looking at the people walking around in the rubble,” she says. “It’s just catastrophic. By the time they get a death count, this is going to be a Pearl Harbor.”

Sabo says the information desk will be open 24 hours a day with services. “Whatever we can help out with, that’s what we’re here for,” she says.

Joy Carter, a senior from Maryland who works in the Campus Shop, says students have been talking about the attacks all morning. “A boy came in here — his mom works at the Pentagon. He said he’s on the way home,” she says. “There’s so many from Elon in that area.” Carter’s own mother works for the Department of Agriculture in downtown DC.

Like in McEwen and Moseley, crowds were watching the news in Belk Library, where an extra TV was set up for those who wanted to watch.

“We’ve had lots of people around,” says assistant librarian Teresa LePors. “They’re doing lots of e-mailing and Instant Messaging to friends and relatives.”

Elon students, faculty and staff packed the Elon Community Church late Tuesday afternoon for a community prayer gathering. “I’ve talked with many students and faculty today who are numb,” President Lambert told the group. “We are collectively in a state of despair, confusion and anxiety about what will happen next. Let us draw on the power of this community and the power of prayer to help us in this time of crisis.”

Several prayers were offered during the gathering, after which Chaplain McBride addressed the group. “We do not yet know who will be determined as responsible for today’s attack, but my prayer is that we will not rush to judgment.”

McBride called on members of the Elon community to support each other during this time of crisis. “Let this be a place where healing can begin, calling on God for support,” he said.

“Leadership is a gift that comes in all forms, and one of the lessons of history is that you never know,” McCullough said. “One of the great things about Harry Truman is that he never tried to be like somebody else.”

As for Bush, McCullough is pleased with how the president is handling the current terrorist crisis. “Certainly if history is a guide, he probably has more fiber, more strength and more stamina than we know,” he said.

McCullough has no doubt the country will weather the current storm. “I don’t think we should ever feel that our spirits are crushed,” he said. “There’s no question in my mind that we will come through this. We will prevail.”

McCullough said that Americans should be realistic and responsible when weighing security threats and civil liberties. “We’ve never faced the reality that we might not be safe on our own soil,” he said. Unlike the attacks on Sept. 11, Pearl Harbor was a military target without the “extraordinary imagery to bring home the horror,” McCullough explained.

Earlier in the day, McCullough met with students, faculty and staff for a question-and-answer session in Whitley Auditorium. He said his career as an author and historian began when couldn’t find an accurate book about the Johnstown flood in the library. So he wrote one.

“I knew immediately that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life,” he said.

When asked about his choice of subjects, McCullough said the process is like choosing a roommate, so he only writes about those he admires. With Truman and John Adams, he said he wanted to give credit where credit is due.

McCullough still uses a manual typewriter to compose his works, and some have suggested he get a word processor. “I don’t want to go faster,” he said. “If anything, I want to go slower.” Diversions such as family, research, travel, and TV and speaking engagements keep writing from being lonely. “I love what I do, and every day is a gift,” he said.

McCullough told the crowd his next project will be on about the Spirit of 1776. “It’s a great, great story,” he said. George Washington’s two victories after crossing the Delaware changed the whole morale of the country overnight, he said. “You talk about having the odds against you. That was the truth of the moment.”

Jenni Reaves, a junior from Charlotte, was one of the first students to arrive. “I feel obligated to be here to participate in any way that I can out of respect and remembrance,” Reaves said. “I wish there was more I could do.”

Junior Lena Page, from Winston-Salem, says the attacks have been a topic of discussion all week. “Anywhere you go, that’s what you start talking about,” she said. “It’s hard to be normal when there are so many people who are so distraught.”

Logan Glanzer, a sophomore from Florida, was looking forward to the prayer service. “I think it will be really good to get into a public gathering and talk with people,” he said. Glanzer’s brother works in lower Manhattan, but the family did not find out until hours later that he was out of the area when the attacks took place.

Kevin Burrows, a senior from Pittsburgh, says that although his family was not directly affected by the attacks, he was there to show support. He says this is a time for mourning on campus. “If I see people smiling right now, it’s like, ‘you shouldn’t be smiling,'” he said.

The service started at noon as Chaplain Richard McBride asked for silence during the tolling of the bells.
“When we gathered here on Tuesday morning (for College Coffee), our spirits were high,” he said. “But within an hour, the flags were at half-mast and we had a different reality to deal with.”

McBride said that more than 700 Elon families live within a 40-mile radius of Washington or New York City. He asked the crowd to remember Jason Boone, a freshman whose father works in the Pentagon and is still among the missing.

The chaplain also asked everyone to consider their response to this week’s events. “My prayer is that as a nation, we will not learn from this occasion how to hate.”

“There are two ways of being in the world: There is the way of fear and the way of faith,” he said. “If we respond to the horrific events of this week principally out of fear, then the terrorists have won. Striking terror into our hearts is their goal. But if we respond out of faith, the world wins.”

McBride also encouraged Americans to have respect for those who are different.

“I ask you to make a distinction between religion and ideology. Between Islam and those from that region of the world who apparently have been the perpetrators of this violence,” he said. “Fear in the nation today makes neighbor suspicious of neighbor. Our nation is a testing ground for this idea of nationhood. We do not have to all be alike to make a civilization.”

In addition to McBride’s remarks, prayers were offered by students Nicole Scherle and Jeff Hadley. To conclude the prayer service, students from campus singing groups Twisted Measure, Sweet Signatures and MSG gathered on the steps of Alamance to sing “Amazing Grace.”

After the service, students Laura Hendricks and Jen McCullough said they were moved by what they saw. “I like how the students were involved,” Hendricks said. McCullough added that the prayers were beautiful. “It’s better to hear it from your peers,” she said.

Junior Tim Trimmer, from Northern Virginia, said the event was “a good way for everybody to get together and say a prayer.” Sophomore James Mould, also from Virginia, says he expected the event to be like College Coffee but came away with more. “I thought it was nice how all the students came together as one,” he said.

Jon Williams, a sophomore from New Jersey, said the service was an important way to promote campus unity. He said the mood of the campus this week was “like the weather — kind of dismal.” Williams has a friend at home whose cousin was on the hijacked plane from Newark.

L’Tanya Richmond, director of minority affairs, and junior Shana McLaughlin came to the service wearing red, white and blue. “I found it to be very comforting to know that we’re not in this alone,” Richmond said.

McLaughlin agreed. “I think the power of prayer is tremendous,” she said.

President Emeritus Earl Danieley also noted the significance of the gathering. “When the Elon family meets in prayer, it is a sign of our unity and a symbol of our faith,” he said.

• Find out why Bill DeJournett says he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to start a marching band at Elon.

• Learn how the ELITE program helps faculty, staff and students integrate technology into academic and student life.

• Get to know some of your newest colleagues, such as the HVAC mechanic who’s a member of the Greensboro Opera Company.

You’ll also find information on cultural events, October birthdays and a new program from CIGNA. We hope you enjoy this issue of @Elon!

The @Elon Staff

Office of University Relations

Here are some of the other features you’ll find in this special summer

issue:

• profiles of this year’s faculty and staff award winners

• information on promotions and retirements

• June, July and August birthdays

• graduation photos

• details on using the mail-order prescription drug program

• photos and stories about a “typical” day at Elon

Please note: The next issue of @Elon will be published in September.

• E-people: Rob Springer gives new meaning to the three R’s: research, reports and rankings.

• For Your Benefit: Planning a summer vacation? Find out what Elon’s health plan covers when you travel.

• In the Spotlight — Physical Plant: Did you miss the Open House at Elon West? We’ll take you there!

– E-people: David Blackman makes spending time with students a priority.

– In the Spotlight: Hear what James McCall, Dale Harrison and Vickie Somers have to say about the new location of the Print Shop.

– Upcoming Events: Find out about cultural events at Elon this month. Be sure to check out the list of March birthdays!

Since the new version of @Elon is online, you can read it wherever you have Internet access. For easy printing, a downloadable PDF version is now available on the home page. You can now print the whole newsletter with Acrobat Reader by clicking the PDF link and printing from your browser!

We hope you enjoy @Elon!