Decision to not postpone classes insensitive

President Myles Brand's decision to continue to hold classes amid the national tragedy that took place Sept. 11 was a deplorable act of inconsideration and lack of compassion for the students.\nFor many students from the New York area, including myself, watching the events unfold before us on the television was made all the more real and tragic by the fear that our family and loved ones were trapped in the war zone of Manhattan. My father supervises elevator workers in buildings around the whole city. My aunt, cousins and friends, eight in all, work in the World Trade Center, or a few blocks away from the massive towers. Also, my uncle was departing on a flight out of Newark airport at the exact same time the doomed jetliner was suspected to have left the runway.\nThat city, to me, was real. The people I knew there were real, and my fear for their lives was very real. After what seemed like hours of panicked calling plagued by busy signals and lost connections, I was finally able to reach my father and confirm that he was safe.\nOne of my roommates checked online to see if classes were still being held, and to my shock, president Brand declared that there would be no cancellations. While I read through the explanation, I saw Brand was quoted as saying, "We feel that classes meeting provide an opportunity for faculty and students to meet and discuss the issues and share their thoughts."\nI thought about this for a bit, and I figured that perhaps it might do some good to meet with other people in class and talk about the tragedy. So I got dressed and headed out to class upset, confused and looking for some way to calm my frustration.\nUnfortunately my frustration turned to anger and disgust as I learned that class was to continue "business as usual." Homework was assigned, the professor lectured and even tests were distributed and taken. My temper flared as I looked around me and saw other students smiling and joking around. \nI could not believe what was happening. Was this any way for a group of students and scholars to behave only hours after thousands of fellow Americans, friends and family, lost their lives to such a heinous act of terrorism?\nAs the professor continued with the lecture, I zoned out and wondered, "What if it was the people of Indianapolis who lay buried beneath the rubble of their own city?" "Would IU's classroom doors still be open for business as usual?"\nThe total lack of consideration by president Brand and members of the teaching faculty for the emotions of the students utterly astounds me. It is inconceivable to think that it was assumed that students were in the proper mental condition to sit in class. President Brand, you failed your students in your role as our president, your country as a citizen and the rest of humanity with your cold-hearted lack of compassion. And you owe us an apology.