Sixth-grader Kayla Stanton was on a weapons-testing military base when the planes struck the World Trade Center ten years ago on Sept. 11.
The base went on lockdown for seven days, and after that, no cars could get in without going through an intense security checkpoint. Stanton didn't even fully understand what was happening.
"It was strange. It really rocked my world because as a sixth-grader, I didn't know what the World Trade Center was," she said.
Now Stanton is president of the Student Government Association, and she feels the event that changed her generation has given her a different outlook on the country.
"It gives me a huge appreciation for our government and how hard they work to keep us safe," she said.
SGA and other organizations have many events planned in honor of the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attack. Lynda Wiley, associate vice president for Student Affairs, worked with SGA to make sure the events were organized with the students in mind.
"[We] wanted to make sure all of the events were meaningful for all students, some of whom were very young," Wiley said. "The day has forever changed all of our lives."
The events begin this week and will end on Sept. 11 with a speaker and candlelight vigil. The speaker, Michelle Rosado, was on the 95th floor of the second tower of the World Trade Center when the planes made impact in 2001. According to her website, she heard a crash and the windows of her office shattered.
Her presentation will describe how she escaped and how her world has been changed forever. She will be speaking in Pruis Hall on Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.
Following her speech, there will be a candlelit ceremony and walk to Shafer Tower. The Student Choir will sing and ROTC will present the flags. The bells of Shafer Tower will toll twice on September 11: once at 9 a.m., the approximate time that the buildings fell, and again after the candlelight vigil.
Other events include a blood drive, Operation Gratitude Collection, Day of Service, and "I Remember" boards.
Operation Gratitude Collection will collect items to send to military troops. Anyone can donate through Sept. 14. Donations will be collected in the Student Voluntary Services office in the Student Center.
The Day of Service is a national event enacted by President Obama on Sept. 11. People all over the country will be volunteering. Ball State's Day of Service is hosted by SVS and will be on Saturday. Students can sign up at SVS's website.
Wiley believes it is important to volunteer in honor of the victims of the terrorist attack.
"It plays a big role in Sept 11. Immediately following the event, people around the country wanted to do something to help. Service was a way to do that," she said.
The "I Remember" boards are at various locations throughout campus. Stanton said it's a way for the students to say how it affected them.
"It didn't just impact the victims; it impacted students across the country."
Stanton is like many other Ball State students who were young and didn't fully understand what was happening. Sam Brock, sophomore music education major, was in fifth-grade and home alone when the towers fell.
"You can imagine how, for a 13-year-old, that can be really scary," Brock said.
Stanton believes it was different being on the military base and seeing people who were very involved with the attack.
"It definitely hit a lot harder to know my dad is fighting for our country, my dad is fighting for our freedom, and that someone has attacked it," Stanton said. "I never would have imagined that somebody would intentionally try to kill that many people and to succeed just to inflict terror, no other reason than to make people afraid. It makes you grow up a little."
- 9/11 Related events -
Operation Gratitude collection drive Sept. 1–14
Student Voluntary Services Day of Service Sept. 10
Staff Council Blood Drive Sept. 7–8 in Pruis Hall
Speaker, Michele Rosado Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. in Pruis Hall
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