In addition to the University’s memorial service today, several colleges and offices are planning other services and activities. According to Dean Donald Nieman, the College of Arts and Sciences hopes to sponsor a series of teach-ins, tentatively titled “Coming to Terms With the Tragedy: An Open Discussion”. The teach-in convenes faculty and students to discuss the events of the past week.
“The purpose is not to talk at the students but to talk with the students,” Nieman said.
Because of the strain on their schedules, faculty may direct the meetings as they choose. History and political science professors plan to attend several gatherings to explain the historic and political aspects of the terrorists’ actions.
“Perhaps the faculty will help the students to place this event in a larger historic and political context, and hopefully, that will help everyone to cope,” Nieman said.
In addition, clinical psychologists may be available to explain the key differences between individual and collective grief as well as how to cope with each.
Finalized plans will be announced at the memorial service, but as of press time, the meetings were scheduled to begin at 1 p.m. They will be held in various residence halls.
“We are trying to bring the ‘teach-ins’ to where the students are as opposed to holding them in classrooms,” Nieman said.
The Counseling Center will [not] available all weekend. Associate professor and psychologist Craig Vickio said he and others will be there for all students who need to talk.
“National trauma can be closely paralleled to personal trauma,” Vickio said. “One of the common issues is the struggle with acceptance. After the death of a close family member, many simply do not believe it. The same is true in this case. Many people walk around with a kind of surrealistic feeling, not fully believing it. “
Vickio said people count on the predictability of life. They know what will happen, and they feel they can plan their lives. They are thrown for a loop when such an event occurs. And whether they cope by giving blood or donating money to organizations, Vickio regards all events like this, both personal and national, as potentially enriching. The goal becomes a new world view.
“It forces people to reconnect, to talk with the people they care about. It wakes us all from the daze of everyday life and proves that life holds no guarantees,” Vickio said.