Gathering Strength: The TCNJ Community Comes Together

Sara Bacheson
Contributing Writer

As The College of New Jersey came together on Tuesday afternoon  in the wake of terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, a single butterfly flew over the grounds of  Loser (pronounced "low-zher") Hall during the moment of silence. 

The gathering had been called by the TCNJ Student Government Association to give members of the campus community to show their support for America, and for each other.  They came by the hundreds.

As I sat with my head down, and my heart with the victims and their families, I looked up to notice this beautiful orange butterfly circling over hundreds of students, professors, Moms, Dads, brothers, sisters, and 
friends. 

It circled the grounds of Loser Hall and flew up to the top of the building a couple of times, before peacefully flying away. But for me, it would always be there. While I sat in my moment of silence, I couldn't help but smile just once, knowing that we aren't alone in this, and that the butterfly was almost a symbol of the happiness that will come in time. It was as if someone was up there, letting all of us know that everything was going to be okay. 

I don't know anyone who has been injured. My family is safe, my friends are safe, and nothing has happened to me physically, I could not help but think of the thousands of families out there that are still asking questions about loved ones that may not have answers for hours. And I know that what I am feeling, mostly everyone is feeling.

When I walked into my house after first hearing about the attack, I  found my roommate, Amy Tharp, in tears. "My best friend's dad was supposed to be on a flight to LA and I didn't know which one. I had to call him in California just to make sure he  was there. He was two hours shy of getting on that plane, but he was there." 

A friend of mine, Greg Niclas, senior graphics design major, said, "I was just really concerned this morning because my sister lives in the city. I  knew she was a safe distance away from all this, but you just don't  know. I couldn't get in contact with anyone because the cell phones were all down,  and it was just really frustrating." Looking away and then back, "I guess that explains the whole thing. Frustrating."

At the afternoon rally, As most people gathered on campus grounds to support their friends and families, they held each other in their prayers, held each other's hands, and most importantly just held each other.  SGA president Al Ribeiro said, the rally was a "place to reflect. A place to show our support. Not to speculate. Not to enrage. Not even to ask why." 

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We came together to show their support and concern for those people who are mourning, for those still wondering, and for those of us who we do not even know. The College's gospel choir led the campus in the hymn "Amazing Grace, "  and later, the "Star Spangled Banner." While high notes ricocheted off campus buildings and we sang as one community,  the wind blew cold, the tears welled up in most eyes, and my heart was a part of something that I am proud to belong to.

Who would think that a couple hundred people standing together on campus in front of a building most people call "Loser Hall" could have such an impact on your heart? 

Somehow, I know that if people could come together within a matter of hours, and show as much heart and love that the students and staff of TCNJ have, anything is possible.

We are all tied up in this somehow. There is no hiding of emotions, no  hiding our feelings, and no way to express the sadness that will remain in our hearts.  

Those people I saw at the rally, and those that passed by me with tears in their eyes, did not  have that simplicity of calling their family members and reassuring themselves that everything was still ok. So, I will have to admit that when I heard of all this, I was selfish and just wanted to call my family to tell them I loved them.

So I did. I called my mom, and I called my sister, and I paged my father to make sure that they knew that I loved them, and just so I had that reassurance  that they were there. My roommate who was crying, and Greg, who could not get in touch with his sister or any of his family members, make me part of this. These people who innocently died in this tragedy, make me a part of this. The supporters at the rally are all a part of this. We are all intricately linked together in some way, and unfortunately it took something so horrible like this to bring us even closer together as a family. But it brought us together, and we are not about to give up our support.

TCNJ President R.  Barbara Gitenstein told the crowd, "This is a day that none of us will ever forget," with a pause, and a slight catch in her voice.  "Only you can be attentive to one another. It is the responsibility of the rest of us to help [those who are in need], she added." 

We are all in a time of need, a time of mourning and a world of wonder.  We may not know the answers to all of our questions for days to come, or  ever, for that matter, but there is comfort in coming together.  Comfort as precious as the soaring of a butterfly in the late afternoon sun.

© 2001 by Sara Bacheson. All Rights Reserved.

Sara Bacheson is a junior journalism major at The College of New Jersey.

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