THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2002
NEWS
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN = 3A
Anton Bubnovskiy/Kansan
Jill Kuhnheim, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, reads a poem during a seminar recognizing the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks yesterday at the Hall Center for the Humanities.
Poetry seminar addresses Sept.11
By Louise Stauffer
Kansan staff writer
Faculty members found that great works of literature could soothe the continuing pain related to the Sept. 11 attacks during a poetry seminar held yesterday afternoon at the Hall Center for Humanities.
Jill Kuhnheim, professor of Spanish and Portuguese, said the seminar had motivated members to use others' words to express their own emotions.
About a dozen people took turns reading their chosen poems and observing how the poetry related to Sept. 11.
"Nobody wanted the burden of talking about it, so we thought it would be good to use poetry that already exists," said Kuhnheim.
She said the seminar, which meets once a month to read various types of poetry, had discussed poems dealing with crisis before.
"People like to go through the poetry ritual," Kuhnheim said. "It keeps us going back to historical moments."
Van Kelly, associate professor of French and Italian, chose to read poems from Renée Char, a French resistance poet from the World War II period.
"Char deals with what happens when things fall apart," Kelly said. "He's not a rosy optimist, he insists on energy."
Joe Harrington, professor of English, said this poetry seminar
"Poetry is a special kind of speech, whether it's a wedding or a disaster. It's an extraordinary language for an extraordinary occasion."
occasion."
Joe Harrington Professor of English
was different from others. He said members usually discussed only the philosophy of poetry.
He said this seminar focused on something in their daily lives, the commemoration of the anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Harrington said there were reasons why people turned to poetry in a time of crisis.
"Poetry is a special kind of speech, whether it's a wedding or a disaster," he said. "It's an extraordinary language for an extraordinary occasion."
Harrington said that although most people in the United States did not read poetry often, reading it increased in times of trial.
“When something unusual happens, it's read more often,” he said. “You get it e-mailed to you.”
Contact Stauffer @
lstauffer@kansan.com. This story
was edited by Matt Norton.
Haskell hosts memorial ceremony
By Lindsey Hodel
Kansan staff writer
American flags flew on every wall of Haskell Indian Nation University's Memorial stadium last night at the City of Lawrence's commemoration of the Sept. 11 attacks.
As the sun set, the event opened with Don McDowell of the American Legion leading the crowd of 350 people in a singing of the national anthem. The crowd stood as a color guard processional entered the stadium with their flags flapping in the wind.
The commemoration was meant to stress the unity within the community, said Freda Tapedo, executive assistant to the president at Haskell University.
"Haskell is hosting the event as part of our campus' remembrance," she said.
Kathy Chaney, Lawrence resident, said she came to the commemoration to honor civil service workers who risked their lives.
lives.
"My dad is a fireman, and he was always getting injured. They are finally getting the recognition they never got before," she said.
A moment of silence for the victims of the attack preceded the first speaker, Mayor Sue Hack.
Robin Shield Former University of Kansas student
"I think the attacks made people appreciate life itself."
"We took a long look at our lives and what was important," Hack said. "We looked at how we related to our family, our friends and our co-workers. We began to reassess what's really important to us."
Karen Swisher, Haskell University president, took an opportunity to read a poem she received from a former Haskell student.
A Haskell drum group performed a memorial song before the event closed with a final benediction.
Robin Shield, former KU student, said attending the event was her way of being thankful for not knowing anyone involved in last year's attacks.
"I think the attacks made people appreciate life itself," she said. They put us in a position to appreciate every opportunity life gives us."
Contact Hodel at Ihdol
@kansan.com. This story was
edited by Christina Neff.
Members of the Color Guard march into Haskell Indian Nation University's Memorial stadium to begin the City of Lawrence's Sept. 11 memorial vigil ceremony.
Jared Soares/Kansan
Remembering
Mike Robinson, Ottawa sophomore, holds one of 1,500 candles at the memorial vigil for September 11th victims yesterday evening.
Eric Braem/Kansan
Forum quiets fears
By Lindsay Hanson Kansan staff writer
Student Union Activities presented the forum, which drew 17 students and faculty members, at the Hawks Nest, first floor of the Kansas Union.
In an open-ended question and answer forum last night, students and faculty vented reactions to last year's terrorist attacks and the country's response.
Four representatives of Counseling and Psychological Services, including director Frank DeSalvo, provided support.
The forum, coordinated by Quinn Gorges, also addressed hopes and fears for the coming year.
"What I see is people taking a stance."
Fallon Farokhi Lawrence junior
One CAPS representative, John Wade, said he thought the forum went well.
"I'm pleased because people were thoughtful," he said. "They didn't just give knee-jerk responses."
Fallon Farokhi, Lawrence junior, said that as a whole people around her had changed and sharpened their opinions about government.
"What I see is people taking a stance," she said.
Contact Hanson at ihanson@kansan.com.
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