Bryan Auditorium was totally silent.
The seats, the steps, and the entranceways were full to overflowing, but no one spoke. Max Carter, Coordinator of Campus Ministries, stood at the microphone.
“Those responsible,” said a voice from the crowd.
“We hold those responsible in the light,” replied Carter.
In the face of the tragic attacks that occurred in New York City and Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, the Guilford College community responded in typical Quaker fashion—with silence.
“We felt the need of a lot of folks,” said Carter, “of an appropriate way to respond [to today’s events].” Carter described the many students, staff, and faculty who spent the morning watching the news in the Underground as “totally catatonic. We’ve never been hit like this in people’s memory,” he said.
“When Quakers don’t know what to do, we sit in silence.”
The silent meeting concluded with members of the community offering names of friends, relatives, and others closely involved to be held in the prayers of the entire group. These names included the President, the loved ones of those responsible, and even those who were themselves responsible for the tragedy.
“It was very comforting to know that our community could gather in support of each other,” said senior Alison Austin. “Even though it doesn’t do much to lessen the pain, it helps to know that there are those around you who care.”
Although no discussion of the actual events occurred during the meeting, Carter conveyed his admiration of the “deep and penetrating analysis” of the situation that he feels Guilford students have taken upon themselves. “Students here understand that violence doesn’t come out of a vacuum,” he said.
Austin agreed but voiced fears that this understanding would not extend to those involved in making the major decisions of the next few days. “I think that we’re very selfish with our international policies,” she said. “I think that (George) Bush is going to be arrogant about wanting to blame someone else and not admit that our actions towards other countries could have precipitated this.”
Carter also expressed worries that international students on campus might feel alienated or threatened by the rest of the community. He emphasized the importance of remaining open-minded and inclusive.
Students who do wish to discuss any aspect of the events are encouraged to do so. “We hope students who are experiencing feelings of loss or anger or despair will choose to talk through these feelings with other people who can lend support. Staff members from the Counseling Center, Residence Life, and Student Life are keeping their schedules flexible so that they can assist students as needed,” said Mona Olds, Dean of Student Life.
The consequences of Tuesday’s tragedies are, at this point, unpredictable. The loss of life has already exceeded the imaginable, and, in the event of retaliations on the part of the United States, may increase exponentially. Certainly, the fear and confusion experienced by people across the nation are unprecedented in recent memory.
But on the campus of Guilford College, the dark clouds are edged with an unmistakable line of silver. It is in the face of catastrophe that community solidifies, and on Tuesday, September 11, the Guilford community proved its worth as the kind of community that does not attempt to ease pain, but to provide strength.