11 reflections on 9/11 Myles Brand, IU president

Sept. 11, 2001 is a date that will remain etched in the minds of today's college students just as the dates Nov. 22, 1963 and Dec. 7, 1941 remain in the memories of their parents and grandparents.\nWe remember the tragedy of one year ago. We share the sorrow of those whose friends and family members perished. We recognize the bravery of policemen, firemen and all the "everyday heroes" who saved lives by putting their own at risk.\nEven in the midst of these tragedies, we saw countless reminders that terror need not triumph, that courage, conviction and hope can overcome hatred and violence.\nOn our campuses, people came together in a search for mutual support and for answers. We reached out to Moslem students and others on campus who felt fearful. That has always been part of our university ethos. Now it took on a new urgency.\nSept. 11 changed America; that has become a truism. But the scope and direction of that change is still uncertain. Living in a democratic nation, all of us as individuals can impact our nation's future. How will we deal with a continuing terrorist threat? What are its implications for civil liberties, for our way of life? How can we best use our power, both moral and military, to build a better, safer world?\nOur university and the individuals who teach, study and work here must continue to play a constructive part in that ongoing dialogue. Our nation was built upon a foundation of democratic engagement. In these troubled times, continuing that tradition is not just our right. It is our responsibility.