11 reflections on 9/11: Mohamed Yusuf, IU Muslim Student Union president

As I reflect on the events of September 11th, I remember the shock and disbelief with which I viewed the images on television and like most of us, I felt a deep connection with the people in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, with those on the airplanes, with the parents, with the relatives and with the friends who had lost their loved ones. As a leader on campus, I also went through a lot of other emotions such as the concern for the safety of the many Muslims on campus and the concern for the security and future of those who are of Middle Eastern descent or who practice the religion of Islam here in the U.S. and abroad. I have realized that although we as a nation have been united in many more ways than we were a year ago, we are still in search of a new meaning and context. Our own basic freedoms, including our freedom of movement, are being suppressed in more ways than we could expect. \nAt this first anniversary of Sept.11, I must mention that the reaction of our campus has been that of tolerance and understanding. There were a large number of students who volunteered to escort their fellow Muslim students during their walks on and off campus. An open house at the Bloomington mosque had visits and speeches from the mayor, IU officials and representatives of the synagogue and churches. As a result, our bond as a community has grown a lot stronger.