Crosses: Remembering 9-11

This week we remembered the tragedy of 9-11-2001. Do you remember where you were that day? Although living across the country from the event, it was anything but a normal day at the office for me. 

It began as a typical hot day in Phoenix, AZ. That is, until I walked into the living room of the family with whom my daughter carpooled to school. They were all gathered around the tv and said we had to see this. I stood in shock at what was before my eyes: the World Trade Center up in smoke. The news was already showing replays of what had just happened. It was difficult for me to ascertain what had really taken place vs. the speculation of the reporters. I think the south tower had just collapsed. 

By the time I got to the office, the north tower had collapsed. I immediately jumped onto the Internet to find news sources. Back in 2001 the Internet was still web 1.0. We were thrilled with simple things like listserves—an automated email that contained a collection of messages posted to the group. I belonged to a listserv for the university admission directors and registrars across the US. It was also common for colleges to partner with corporations and use their space as an adjunct campus. Some schools had offices in the towers. As I opened my email that morning (9-11), I and others on the listserv had received a cryptic message from a college registrar inside one of the twin towers. All she said was “You can’t imagine how bad it is here. Please pray for us”. It was sent before the buildings collapsed. That may have been her final communication to the world. 

At some point, it was speculated that the hijackers worked for Osama Bin Laden and had attended flight school in the US. “They began researching flight schools in Europe, but quickly found that training in the United States would be cheaper and faster.” My international university once had a partnership with a local flight school in Mesa in which we taught management courses and the flight school taught pilot training. Although our partnership had ended, there was possibility the hijackers had previously attended. “Once Hanjour arrived in San Diego and joined Hazmi, the two quickly relocated to Arizona, where Hanjour had spent most of his previous time in the United States.  On December 12, 2000, they were settling in Mesa, Arizona, and Hanjour was ready to brush up on his flight training.  …  He and Hazmi then left the Southwest at the end of March [2001]…” (p. 7). So I searched our computerized student records system while another employee searched paper files, looking for students who may have come from the Gulf Coast countries (GCC). By God’s grace, I don’t recall finding any.  

Also 5:30 that morning, my niece had begun an experimental cancer treatment in a hospital nearby the WTC. The procedure was to fill the liver with acetaminophen to kill off the tumors, then give her an antidote so she didn’t die of poisoning. Fortunately, she had received the antidote prior to the event which would later fill the hospital with victims.

This week, I watched National Geographic’s excellent video of survivors telling the story. Stanley Praimnath’s story revealed the corporate workplace culture of that time.  (1:09:12 mark). With the North Tower on fire and chaos below, he and the other 81^st floor executives in the South Tower took the elevator to ground floor to leave. At that moment, security announced their building is fine and for everyone to go back to their office. Mr. Praimnath’s peers taunted him, “Come on Stan the Man, you’re not afraid to go back up”. So he went back to the 81^st floor with them (he was the only one to survive). In the corporate world, the company expects it to be first in your life, and much pressure is put onto employees. 

Our workplace culture was no different. A tv in the cafeteria was on for employees to watch and many had radios at their desks too. By mid-morning, however, our executives issued the command to turn off all tv’s and radios as this was distracting us from our work. We were to trust that they would give us any necessary updates (we never received any update from them). Of course, I told my employees to leave their radios on low volume and give us updates 😊 We had earlier been told to stay off the Internet because it was slowing down their system and our work. Of course, I stayed on the Internet. Our nation had just experienced the greatest tragedy of its history and it was unknown if other attacks would occur around the country. That was priority. 

At that time, I was teaching management courses online for another university. That evening, I learned one of my active-duty military students was in the Pentagon when the plane flew into it but he was ok. He continued taking the course on schedule. We truly do have the best military in the world. 

Sometime over the next day or two, I had a “come to Jesus” talk (a common phrase back then meaning a serious talk) with our executives. Prior to the attack, they had been pressuring me (I was Director of Admissions) and our International Student Advisor to loosen our guidelines to make it easier for international students to gain admission and attend school. International students are required to show they have funds in account in their home country in order to gain a student visa and attend in the US. Thus, they practically guarantee tuition revenues for any university without the hassle of FAFSA. At this meeting, I explained that this terrorist attack is precisely why we must stay with the rigorous industry standards on international student admissions.  We had a responsibility to our industry and country. They were unable to see this. I asked point blank, “wouldn’t you have felt responsible if one of the terrorists were our student?”. My boss said no. They saw absolutely no reason for us to not weaken our standards and still wanted to make it easy to bring foreign nationals into the US under a student visa (even knowing some disappear once in the US and never show up for class). They were only interested in making their financial reports look more successful. 

That’s when I began to make plans to quit my job, and I gave left the following January 15, 2002. 

There are many types and sizes of crosses that people carry. Some are carried alone while the burdens of other crosses are shared. The World Trade Center tragedy was a cross that we shared as Americans. On this feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Jesus, perhaps pray for the many individuals and families who continue to suffer the effects of that day. 

O God, Who dost this day gladden us by the yearly Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, grant, we beseech thee, that even as we have understood the mystery thereof upon earth, so we may worthily enjoy in heaven the fruits of the redemption which was paid thereon.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

(Images: header courtesy of Catholic Vote; middle picture by James Tourtellotte, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)