2002 Vol.72, No. 3 Xavierite

              The XAVIERITE
The student newspaper of Saint Xavier University
www.sxu.edu/xavierite
Wednesday, September 18, 2002
Volume 72, Number 3
SXU remembers 9-11: President Yanikoski
and faculty spread words of hope to students
Courtesy Brian Kelley
The sun shines over the statue of Mary on September 11
By Julianne Siegel
Deputy News Editor
The Prayer:
"I pray You'll be our eyes,
and watch us where we go
And help us to be wise, in
times when we don't know
Let this be our prayer, when
we lose our way
Lead us to the place, guide
us with Your grace
To a place where we'll be
safe.
On Wednesday, September
11, the entire SXU community
joined together to remember the
one-year anniversary of the attack
and destruction of the World Trade
Center, the attack on American
freedom where thousands lost their
lives. Husbands and wives, mothers 
and fathers, young and old alike
perished at the hands of a faceless
enemy.
Despite this senseless tragedy, 
hope and belief in the strength
and courageUf our fellow countrymen, 
the strength and tenacity
of our beautiful America, has not
been destroyed. It was this faith,
this belief in our fellow man that
brought the faculty and students of
SXU together to mourn those who
have died, but also to remember
that life does go on, and that the
strength of the SXU community
remains strong.
President Dr. Yanikoski lent
a message of hope to the entire
SXU community. Through service
and action, we can help others and
fight the inequality that exists
within our world as well as our
nation.
"The faculty, staff and trustees have 
a shared responsibility for
the actions of our nation; they must
work together to remedy injustice
and alleviate poverty. We must turn
our strengths of faith and privilege
into forms of direct assistance to
those who have it least. Jesus calls
us to address poverty, ignorance,
and illness now!
We must look upon September 11 as 
a 'Remembrance day.'
Clearly we are all called as indi
viduals and as a
community to
bear witness to a
world that still
cries out to a great
deal of grief."
September
11 "pulled us together. We came
together as opposed to going
apart. It was a reaffirmation that
St. Xavier is a
community, not a
cluster of students!"
On September 11, 
students felt safer on
this campus than
anywhere else.
The faculty "mobilized 
to sponsor
forums" easing
the students' fears
and bringing
them together,
something that
lacked on most
college campuses
that day, a sense    
of togetherness.
"Although we have many
differences, we can all learn from
one another. Our main source of
hope is the knowledge that we are
created and loved by God. We are
made to be good; we are all 
fundamentally good people."
"We must contribute what
we can to help others; this is our
opportunity to contribute for justice."
Due to the strength and love
Dr. Yanikoski and the faculty and
staff at SXU have towards their
students, St. Xavier will remain a
source of hope and comfort for 
everyone, including the world in
which we live.
The first remembrance event
at SXU was a noon mass held in
the McDonough Chapel. Students
and faculty alike prayed for the
souls of the departed, an end to the
hatred and violence that has 
shattered the nations of Israel and Af-
ghanistan and an understanding
that we have a responsibility as
citizens of this great nation to utilize 
those privileges that have been
bestowed upon us for the 
betterment of our world.
Then at 2 p.m., a Reflection
Ceremony was held in the Shannon 
Center's main arena. The solemn 
and emotional ceremony was
filled with words of hope and 
encouragement for all who were
present. Student Janean Johnson,
master of ceremonies, reminded
the SXU community just how
strong it truly is by exclaiming,
"Saint Xavier University has witnessed 
the Great Chicago Fire, two
World Wars, and now 9-11; yet we
still remain strong!"
It is a strength rooted in history 
that continues to thrive today.
SXU remains a beacon of hope for
its students, faculty and community.
Dr.
Yanikoski 
reminded the 
faculty and staff
just how
"blessed we are
to be members
of the SXU
community. We
have the benefit
of a good education, 
good food
and good
health!"
He solemnly 
proclaimed that the
tragic events of
September 11
"remind us of
our own mortality."
Therefore, the entire
SXU community is called to
continue to support one another, 
and become, with the
time   that   God
has granted to
us, "instruments
of peace." The SXU community,
a community rooted in the
Catherine McCauley tradition of
hope and devotion to our fellow
man, indeed spread words of peace
and hope on campus last Wednesday.
These words will surely
resonate throughout the SXU 
community, our Chicagoland 
community, and hopefully will become
beacons of light throughout a
world covered in grave darkness
and sadness right now.
Director of Student Media
Rob Quicke expressed his pride for
calling America home.
"I am an Englishman who is
proud to be in America."
Like so many others, September 11 
made Mr. Quicke come
to the realization that the "world
is not as vast and divided as 
presently thought; there is a global
community that cares!"
There is an SXU community
that cares as well. Faculty members 
Dale Fast and Joan Kaminski
both expressed the disbelief and
anger they felt on September 11.
Yet it wasn't just anger 
towards terrorism, it was also an 
anger towards the violence that ensued in
the guise of "justice" after the attacks.
Student Ronza Othma expressed 
her pride for being an
Arab-American by exclaiming that
through the events of September
11, she has "learned to appreciate
her freedom."
She is proud to live in a
country where she can "practice
her religion, pursue an education
and socialize with whomever she
chooses!"
Student Lubna Akkawi
stated that September 11 has taught
her to "live life to the fullest while
placing family first."
Student Katie Anderson
moved everyone when she exclaimed that 
September 11 "renewed my faith in people."
On a day when so many
lives were shattered and so many
lost their faith, it is humbling to
realize that at SXU, there exists a
community of believers who remain strongly 
rooted in their faith
of God, and in their faith of their
fellow man.
After each reflection, a
candle was lit to acknowledge the
light that burns inside us all, calling 
us to become peacemakers in
our own lives.
Truly, the SXU community
will forever carry with them the
words and the messages that were
given at this reflection.
The last remembrance event
was held at 9:30 p.m. in Mary's
Circle. With the help of the 
Resident Hall Board and the SXU
RA's, students were welcomed
among a sea of votive candles to
express their thoughts and feelings
about September 11.
One by one, students ap-
See "9-11" page 3
ALSO
INSIDE
THIS
ISSUE...
News
Midnight boat
cruise
Features
Who is Blare?
Sports
Cougars out for a jog
Free to read,
expensive to
pass up