WEDNESDAY,SEPT.12.2001
AMERICAN TRADEGY
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Ross: Isolated panic
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Emily Ross said she learned of the attack at about 9 a.m. — and learned that her uncle was OK about an hour and a half later.
She was at Robinson Center when she learned of the attack.
"The secretary picked up the phone and said, 'What? A plane hit the Pentagon?'" Ross said. "And I said, 'My uncle works there,' so I went home and turned on the TV."
She said her uncle called his wife and then "he called my mom to let her know he was OK."
Emily Ross' mother later called her. Ross said that up until she received the call, she was worried because she didn't know where her uncle's office was.
Todd Ross said people in the Pentagon did not immediately know the building had been hit by a plane or even that the World Trade Center had been attacked — they only heard the explosion.
He said ignorance of what was happening could have been one reason only a few people panicked when the evacuation alarm was sounded 30 seconds later.
"I saw isolated incidents of panic," he said. "But I think that's primarily
because not everyone monitors CNN while they work."
Ross also added that the offices near where the plane made contact were relatively empty because they had just been renovated. The casualties were less than they would have been had the plane hit any other side of the building, he said.
"A year ago, there wouldn't have been anyone on that side of the building except construction workers," he said.
After leaving the building, Ross walked about six miles to Alexandria, Va., "because the public transportation was just clobbered."
He described the "big cloud of black smoke" that he saw as he walked away from the building.
And he said that once the more figurative "smoke" cleared in both Washington, D.C., and New York City, it would still take a while to figure out what the attack meant.
"My knowledge right now is limited to the news, so I'm seeing the same things you are," he said. "Clearly this is an event that is equal to or greater than Pearl Harbor."
Contact Schultes at 864-4810
AST THE DUST CLEARS
The dust and rubble from the collapse of the two World Trade Center towers covered much of lower Manhattan. Many firefighters and police officers died in the first phase of the rescue.
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Counselors prepare to help students
By Ryan Malashock and Andy Samuelson Kansan staff writers
Students couldn't escape their emotions after learning of yesterday's terrorist attacks.
For Luke Trammell, yesterday's tragedy was all too familiar.
The Edmond, Okla., freshman said he compared his initial reaction to that of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.
"My mom called and woke me up about 7:30," Trammel said. "At first it looked like Oklahoma City, but now it's just crazy. I think it's scary. Everybody will be tentative to get on a plane."
As students learn more about the disaster, some might need extra assistance to control their emotions of shock, disbelief and horror.
then either of us, Pam Botts, associate director of Counseling and Psychological Services said terrorism was difficult to deal with because it was a rare occurrence in the lives of most students at the University.
Botts was one of several CAPS counselors in the Union yesterday. CAPS was available at four campus locations including Elsworth Residence Hall, Gertrude Sellards Pearson-Corbin Hall and Watkins Health Center. The service is free to students.
service is free to students. Botts said that although they did help a few students who were already dealing with emotional issues, the majority of people were still trying to get information on the incident or contact friends and family who were near the attacks.
"A surprising number of people have friends or family that live on the East Coast or have friends or family flying some place," Botts said. "Other students are connected to the military in one way or another."
CAPS counselors will be available throughout the week, possibly at the same four locations, depending on student traffic.
"We are just one service," Botts said.
"Friends, family and clergy are also where people go. It's very normal for people to go where they feel most comfortable."
Another outlet for students who are trying to cope with the tragedy is Headquarters Counseling Center, 1419 Massachusetts St.
Marcia Epstein, director of Headquarters, said that unlike CAPS, Headquarters' counseling services were available 24 hours a day by calling 841-2345. She said walk-ins were also accepted.
Epstein said Headquarters had seen an increase in calls yesterday, although many were from students who regularly called the center.
Like CAPS, Headquarters provides coun sealing for no charge.
Contact Malashock and Samuelson at 864-4810
Local: Continue on
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"On any given day we have about 31,000 people coming through our airport," McBride said. "There's no telling at this point how many are displaced."
Nor could he predict when airlines would be cleared to resume flights, even with increased security measures such as bomb dogs at the terminals.
Police forces and national guard units on both sides of the state line were on alert yesterday.
"We are prepared to respond to any emergencies that may arise," said Lt. John Sidwell.
He said no buildings had been closed, but state office buildings
Both Topeka and Kansas City, Mo., police set up incident command stations to handle all activities and communications.
had been reduced to one-door access and the governor's mansion had been secured.
No buildings in Lawrence were closed, said Sgt. Mike Pattrick of the Lawrence police department.
He said all officers had been advised of what had happened on the East coast and the department was operating at a heightened level
"I guess we're trying to hold a status quo here as far as just trying to maintain normal operation." Patrick said.
Contact Craigmile and Smith at 864-4810
MOST KU STUDENTS DRINK MODERATELY OR NOT AT ALL 0~5 DRINKS WHEN TheyParty*
About one drink per hour over a 5 hour period
One drink = 12 oz. beer = 4.5 oz. wine = 1-1.5 oz. liquor
- Based on survey responses from 1,608 KU students. Survey administered by the KU Office of Institutional Research & Planning (2001).