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As we know, Wednesday was the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 and the terrorist attacks on America. Just after noon yesterday, social studies chair Michael Curran '99 read a brief, poignant reflection on the day to the entire student body during afternoon announcements.
Curran then retired to his classroom to teach his "Understanding 9/11" class. This is the 11th year Curran has taught this class, which is usually held in the spring semester. However, student interest has increased so much that the class is now being offered in the fall for the first time. So, that meant this was the first time Curran taught his 9/11 class on the actual anniversary date.
"The students in my classes now were not even born yet when this event took place," Curran said. "However, many of my students have some connection or have family members who remember the day vividly." In fact, by the end of the semester, Curran asks each student to produce a podcast, speaking with someone who has a particular perspective on the day itself.
Curran says he was a student at St. Bonaventure on that tragic day back in '01. He said that while St. Bonaventure was in upper New York State, a number of his classmates were from New York City and had relatives directly impacted by the tragedy.
As for the class, the course description lays out several objectives, including the exploration of how the United States addressed terrorism prior to 9/11 and the policy changes in the aftermath.
The class will also take a field trip to New York, and Mr. Curran is hoping to get to the Pentagon as well.
There are a number of us still at DeMatha who can recall that infamous day. Students were permitted to leave early with permission, although classes remained until the scheduled end time. As we know, there was a pause in the days that followed as America tried to process what had transpired. Athletic and extracurricular events were put on hold, and the varsity football team's scheduled trip to the Midwest for a game was canceled. The experience was surreal, to say the least.
(We should also say that a number of DeMatha-related people reported back to us with varied recollections on what they experienced on that day in 2001).
One of the mantras of that period was, "We will never forget." Suffice to say, Mr. Curran, his students, and yes, DeMatha, are all doing their part to see to it that we do, in fact, remember.
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