Kevin Morrow’s message for gathering 9/11/01

Kevin Morrow’s message for gathering 9/11/01September 12, 2001

Good afternoon. I am Kevin Morrow, the University spokesman.

What has happened today is nothing that I have seen in my lifetime. Our thoughts and support are with, among others, the rescue workers who are trying to the best of their abilities to deal with the aftermath of these tragic events. Their task is not an easy one.

Here is what we know so far:

• A commercial plane crashed into one of the towers of the World Trade Center at 8:45 a.m. today. About 18 minutes later, a much larger passenger jet crashed into the second tower. Later this morning, one tower and then the other collapsed. Subway service in Manhattan has been shut down; people have been walking out of the affected area in southern Manhattan.

• Part of the Pentagon in Virginia collapsed and burst into flames after another aircraft reportedly crashed into it at 9:45 a.m.

• In what is believed to be a related incident a westbound airliner out of Newark crashed in rural Pennsylvania east of Pittsburgh at 10:10 a.m.

• All federal buildings in Washington, D.C., as well as historic sites in Philadelphia were evacuated and closed. The mayor of Washington has declared a state of emergency.

• All airline traffic in the United States has been grounded. U.S.-bound trans-Atlantic traffic has been diverted to Canada.

• No number has been given for casualties at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and on the airline flights.

• Some of the victims are reportedly being transported to Syracuse for treatment.

• We have been able to identify through our computer records 234 SU alumni, family and friends who work in the World Trade Center and 73 who work in the Pentagon. We are checking on their status.

Here is what is going on on campus:

• Hendricks Chapel is open throughout the day and the evening for prayer and reflection, and chaplains are standing by to offer aid.

• Likewise, the staff of the University’s Counseling Center is available to offer assistance to students.

• The Schine Student Center will remain open all evening; the Panasci Lounge in the Schine Center and the Telefund Office in the Women’s Building have banks of phones available for students to use for local and long-distance phone calls.

• All campus residence halls will have a meeting at 7 p.m. in their main lobbies. Counselors will be available at that time, as well as throughout the day, for the residence hall populations.

• Students can donate blood tonight at the Red Cross on 636 South Warren Street and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Maxwell Hall Room 204.

• Tonight at 10 o’clock, there will be a special Mass at the Alibrandi

Catholic Center.

• The Student Association is planning “Sheets of Expression” Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the Quad. SA members will work with members of the campus community to express their thoughts and emotions about these tragedies by writing or painting on bed sheets. Everyone is invited to join.

More information, as it becomes available, will be disseminated via e-mailand will be posted on the Web at http://sunews.syr.edu,which is also available off of the University home page.