| OCR Text |
Show 4 WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2001 Concerned for International U EOTC Students E espond to Terrorism JARED WHITLEY Chronicle News Editor Students' Safety Duane Bogatko was in a Veteran's Day committee meeting when he learned that the World Trade Center and Pentagon had been assaulted. "Complete shock" was how Bogatko a Naval ROTC battalion MATT CANHAM Chronicle Editor in Chief U administrators arc acting with caution when it comes to providing crisis counseling to international students, following the terrorist attacks against major landmarks in New York City and Washington. DC. The U does not want to point fingers at any racial, ethnic or national group, despite multiple media reports that point the blame at Muslim extremist Osama bin administrative officer described his reaction. "It's a terrible tragedy. I'm still in shock," Bogatko said several hours after learning about the event. "It's scary to actually think that (the Pentagon was that vulnerable," said Chon Darcing, NROTC student. NROTC battalion commander Kelly Maksem likewise reacted with "complete shock" to the attacks. From watching it on television, she Laden. "If any international students have any special issues to deal with, we are available to assist them," said Bill Barnhart, director of the International Center. This is exactly what Fauzi Syammach wants to hear. The former president of the Muslim Students Association reminds everyone to remember the Oklahoma City bombing. For two days, news accounts and government officials suggested that Muslim extremists blew up the federal building. It turned out to be domestic terrorism. Syammach hopes a similar situation docs not take place now. "When I heard it, I felt like we need to do something to whoever did it. This is unacceptable. At the same time, you can't point fingers before the investigation is done," he 4.""',?-'.- , " - said it "looked like a war zone." As a member of the military, Maksem doesn't know what her responsibility in this situation could eventually become. "I hope we don't go to war," she ft s ?, S 1 v . . r v. said. "Hopefully, we'll be able to resolve this matter in the most appropriate manner...if there is such an option." Maksem feels that at this point, the important thing is to reach out to the families of the victims, especially people here in Salt Lake City to "help people who are suffering," rather than retaliate, she said. Before jumping to any conclusions, Bogatko thinks the military should "let the dust settle" and find out who's responsible. Dareing thinks there should be a thorough investigation before any names are thrown out said. Syammach sent an email to the members of the MSA. "I would like to request all members to be careful in their conversations as not to lead to reaching for conclusions of the event. As of right now, no one knows who did it. It is the time for us to educate people, not to point fingers at Muslims, as they did in the event of the tragedy in Oklahoma. "For the same reason let us not point fingers at others. The best thing is to wait and see until the truth speaks for itself," the email stands guard outside Fort Douglas, where tightened security made public visits impossible during the day. Maksem Lt. Col. Attila Bognar, Army doesn't have Although The Daily Utah Chronicle was friends or family in Washington. ROTC, had received no for unable to reach anyone at Fort Douguidance D.C, or New York, she said, "The any special actions or precautions with the authority to release glas military is a big family. Those were from Army superiors and noted that any kind of official statement. . military officials in there." things would be "business as usual." utah.edu jwhit!eychrcnicle. An MP Community Rises to Meet B lood Need 17 MATT GROESBECK Chronicle News Writer national Tuesday morning's tragedy in New York and Washington, D.C, brought Utah residents out in large numbers to donate blood at local centers like the American Red Cross and the Associated Regional University Patholo read. The Muslim Students Association also released a statement after hearing the news reports. "The Muslim Students Association of the University of Utah strongly condemns the violent attack on innocent people in New York and Washington, D.C. This hideous act is not tolerable from any point of view of Islamic teachings and values. We offer our deepest condolence to the families of the victims. We hope that the truth will be revealed and justice will be served." Barnhart said he has heard that some students felt unsafe after hearing the news. Dean of Students Stayner Landward, however, has confidence in the general student body. "Our students clearly have the intelligence and the humanity to understand the difference between the terrorist groups and any students who come from that region," he said. Barnhart worries that early speculation would lead to violence against certain ethnic or racial groups. "We want to protect our students against any inappropriate backlash," he said. No terrorist group or nation has claimed responsibility for the attacks. mcanhamchronicle.utah.edu THE DAILY UTAH CHRONICLE m-- r . gists in Research Park. The American Red Cross is preparing to send their blood donations to New York City. But ARUP blood services expects to support the local blood vacancies with three mobile blood donor units and their home donor site at the west entrance of the Red Butte Health Center in Research Park. Wl pqiiii . is ) Out of 150 possible donors who flocked to the University of Utah's Research Park, ARUP reported m people were eligible to donate as of 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday. ARUP officials encourage students to continue to donate. However, ARUP is asking that people who wish to donate should wait a few days or even a week before calling the blood services at 2 to make an appointment "We're turning people away because we don't have the staff to support them," said Angela Howell, ARUP community relations representative. "Donors are coming out of our ears. But we're not turning them away for good. We're just asking them to reschedule and come back this week, or even next week," Howell said Tuesday afternoon. In the meantime, ARUP officials are bracing themselves for a wave of donors coming in the next few 584-527- days. "We're really swamped," said Joli Passey. a teaching specialist at ARUP blood services. "We're taking as many people as we can." ARUP called in their remaining staff to help with donation services A total of 25 ARUP workers stepped up to the plate to handle the wave of Utah residents wanting to donate. A flood of donors started coming m at 9 a.m. Tuesday, to according Dina Hannah, ARUP assistant director of quality and compliance. L U -- - student Kths!el Kma donates blood Tuesday. "We're getting around 25 or 30 people an hour." Hannah said Hannah was personally impressed with the influx of people wanting to help by donating blood and the continual responsiveness of Utah citizens to emergencies ARUP converted a computer training room into a blood donor registering center to handle the number of people wishing to donate. They also added donor chairs and more recovery space by using employee break rooms. Hannah anticipates several more donors will come in, but said people should call to make an appointment rather than just show up. "An urgent need for blood will continue, so we need people over the next few weeks. We're always in a shortage, especially in the summer months because people are on vacation. It's going to become an acute shortage if donors don't come in later," said Denise Cumming, director of ARUP blood service relations. "The feeling of people wanting to help right now.it'd be great to hold onto that for the next few days or even next week." "A lot of people have been saying 'I want my blood to go to New York,'" Cumming said. "We're so far away, but it affects us here." said Michael Smith, who was one of the first batch of donors at ARUP Tuesday morning. Smith said he saw the news early in the morning, then headed straight to ARUP in Research Park to donate blood. "I thought it was a movie special effects and everything else," Smith said about watching the unfolding coverage of the New York plane crashes. Smith said he was motivated to go to ARUP to donate, but lamented that giving blood may be the most he or anyone else here in Utah can do. "WVre not going to pick up the pieces in New York and Washington. D.C, but we can do what we can here." mgroesbeckchronicle.utah.edu |
