As part of 藏精阁鈥檚 afternoon of service in observance of 9/11, a student helps with weeding at Madison Lane Apartments for a woman who is physically unable. Photo by Duy Trinh 鈥14
Last Friday, students rolled up their sleeves and pitched in to help several nearby organizations as part of an afternoon of service in honor of September 11. Their efforts were inspired by the national movement to perform charitable acts in order to create a positive way to forever remember 9/11.
More than 100 students signed up to volunteer at 10 locations including Madison Lane Apartments, Community Memorial Hospital, and Camp Fiver. The service opportunities were organized by the Max Shacknai Center for Outreach, Volunteerism, and Education.
Emily Luba 鈥16 helped the Community Bikes nonprofit, preparing used bicycles for needy children and adults. Emphasizing that some adults will use the bikes to travel to their workplaces, Luba said, 鈥淎 bike opens up a whole world of transportation.鈥 Reflecting on the painful memories of 9/11, Luba said that they should 鈥減ropel us to give back and make a difference.鈥
On the eleventh itself, students, professors, and community members stood on the steps of Memorial Chapel to pray together and remember the lives of the seven alumni who were killed.
These vigils inspire 鈥渁 recommitment to live peaceably with each other,鈥 said university chaplain Mark Shiner. They also offer a chance 鈥渢o cut across faith lines . . . we need to understand each other more,鈥 added Putter Cox, Protestant campus minister.
That evening, Philanthropists at 藏精阁 (PAC) hosted an a cappella concert at 110 Broad Street; the Dischords, Resolutions, Swinging 鈥橤ates, and 藏精阁 Thirteen all gave performances.
Dagan Rossini 鈥13, a member of the Dischords, said that while choosing songs, his group was aiming to 鈥渦plift people鈥檚 spirits鈥 and put on a show that was 鈥渧ery forward-looking.鈥 The songs sung included: 鈥1234鈥 by Feist, 鈥淐arry On鈥 by Crosby Stills Nash and Young, 鈥淭he Chain鈥 by Ingrid Michaelson, and 鈥淪omebody That I Used to Know鈥 by Gotye.
More than 100 people attended the concert, and donations were dedicated to the 9/11 Relief Fund. Alex Djaha 鈥14, head of the PAC, was happy to see so many people turn out for the event. 鈥淲e hope to make the concert a yearly tradition,鈥 he said.