 Sophomore Kim Mortinsen | Like many other colleges and
universities, St. Scholastica experienced a spontaneous
outpouring of grief, solidarity and patriotic expression after the terrorist
attacks of Sept. 11. So many St. Scholastica students volunteered to donate blood that the local center was overwhelmed. Almost every dorm room window was decorated with American flags. Red, white and blue sprouted in many offices, on desks and in hallways. |
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The College organized several events, the first a prayer service on
the day of the attacks. Dr. Larry Goodwin told students, faculty and
staff assembled in Mitchell Auditorium that, despite feelings
of helplessness, they could do three things: "First, we can pray for the victims and their families. "Second, we can take care of one another. One of the Benedictine values is community, and we need community now more than ever. In the days ahead, let us acknowledge our feelings of fear and anger and sadness, and let us console and support one another. "Finally, let us remember that, although we are Americans -and our nation is suffering terribly -we are also citizens of the world, members of the human family. We share a basic humanity with all the peoples of the earth who are also children of God. Let us today, therefore, recommit ourselves and redouble our efforts on behalf of social justice. And let us pray for world peace." |
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He also read from the Bible, 1 Peter 3: 8-12: "To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. For, 'The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit. He must turn away from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and his ears attend to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.'" |
 Sophomore Kim Mortinsen had the idea to display American flags
in Somers Hall dorm windows. "At first it was just going to be our wing, but then it spread to every window," she said |
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In subsequent weeks hundreds of students, faculty and staff
gathered at forums and speeches for discussions about American
foreign policy, terrorism and understanding Islam. Neal Keye, assistant professor of Religious Studies, created the course "Rethinking Religion After Sept 11, 2001," which is currently being offered. "Nothing can justify what happened," Keye told the Duluth News Tribune, "however, there is a history to those events we need to begin to understand." Sister Katherine McLaughlin, chair of religious studies, said of the course: "Not only do I think it's a good idea, but I think we have an obligation as the kind of school we are to deal with these issues in an ethical and social context." The course is examining such issues as how religion and culture fit into the events of Sept II; evil as a modern political problem; history of religious nationalism and the complexity of "God talk" in relation to the politics of terror. |
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