On Saturday, Sept. 10, a moment of silence inaugurated a day of service in remembrance of the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, 2001.
The Center for Community Engagement at Montclair State University organized a ceremony and day of service to commemorate the attacks. The event took place in the ballrooms of the Student Center, where clips of newscasts and testimonials were shown to the over 200 attendees. Among them, students, faculty members, clubs and groups of Greek life came out to volunteer.
Volunteers and attendees at the event watch newscasts reporting the terrorist attack on 9/11.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
During the event, Montclair State President Jonathan Koppell shared a few words on the impact this tragic attack has had on the country, even 21 years later.
Koppell also extended words of encouragement to those who volunteered to honor the lives that were lost on Sept. 11.
Montclair State University President Jonathan Koppell gives an encouraging speech to volunteers at the day of service event.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
“We are building a community together and you are dedicating this part of your life to creating a public good,” Koppell said. “That’s what we should remember. We should not remember the violence. We should remember the fact that we recognized our interconnectedness, recognized the need to create public goods.”
After the introduction, the attendees separated into groups that would continue their day of service through blanket making, cards and bracelet designs, as well as the sandwich making that would be donated to shelters like Covenant House, food banks and other non-profit organizations.
Montclair State volunteers make cards and bracelets for public donations.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
The Assistant Director of the Center for Community Engagement, Krystal Woolston, believes days of service such as this can be the small change needed in the wide community surrounding Montclair State.
Event volunteers make blankets to be donated to non-profit organizations.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
“I think we’ve gotten away from those ideas of really caring about each other, caring about a community,” Woolston said. “But I think days like these, some of the services we do on an ongoing basis, provide that opportunity to really create care for each other.”
Liz Kimbel, program specialist for the Global Center on Human Trafficking, promoting the Red Sand Project, a participatory artwork initiative.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
Members of the university’s staff such as Preya Sanasie, assistant director of building services, who was working in Blanton Hall during the fall of the twin towers, she makes sure to support events in the remembrance of 9/11.
Preya Sanasie, assistant director of building services, with her grandchildren at the day of service event held at the Student Center.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
Sanasie has made it a tradition to bring her grandchildren to the events on campus every year.
On the far left, Krystal Woolston, assistant director of the Center for Community Engagement, discusses the impact of 9/11 with event attendees.
Michelle Coneo | The Montclarion
“It was a very sad day, there was a TV where you could see it actually happening,” Sanasie said. “It was a quiet day on campus, it was a shock to everybody.”
