Trinity University

The Office of University Communications
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Sep. 26, 2011

Observing 9/11's Impact On Campus

Prayer service and lecture series help Trinity University commemorate tragedy a decade ago

By Andrea Davis '12

SAN ANTONIO - Trinity University faculty, staff, and students examined the impact of the 9/11 tragedy by observing its 10^th anniversary with a prayer service and a series of lectures. 

On the day of the anniversary, the Rev. Stephen Nickle, chaplain at the Parker Chapel, led a worship service titled "Recollection and Resolve: Prayers and Possibilities Inspired by 9/11." The service began in the chapel and then moved to the 9/11 Memorial Garden. There, Nickle led those gathered in a period of silence, followed by an opening prayer. He then recounted his experience on Sept. 11, 2001, and members of the group shared their stories. A student stepped forward and read Psalm 46, which began, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." Participants then explained how the observance aided them in understanding 9/11, the values that have moved from individuals to the global population because of Sept.11, and its meaning 10 years later. The service closed with a prayer.

Beginning Sept. 8, Trinity's religion department launched the Fall 2011 Lennox Lecture Series, "A Decade After 9/11: Muhammad in History, Politics, and Memory." Fred Donner, professor of Near Eastern history at the University of Chicago, presented a lecture (watch the video) based on excerpts from his book, Muhammad and the Believers: At the Origins of Islam, published by Harvard University Press in 2010. He explained how Islam originated from the blending of other religions like Christianity and Judaism to create an all-encompassing belief.

Junior English major Elisa Reyna felt Donner's lecture provided insight into a religion that most know little about.

"It was really informative, and I think he (explained) the origins of a religion most of us don't understand," Reyna said. "Like he said in the lecture, there's a lot of things that happened after 9/11, (with) a lot of assumptions made about a religion."

Junior religion major Divina Varghese, who introduced Donner, said the Lennox Lecture series will help people "get to the basic truth" of 9/11.

"In reality it was extremists who came and did what they wanted to do," Varghese said. "They said they were representing a religion, but they were representing themselves. It's an amazing religion, and I think the lecture series will help inform people how multifaceted it is."

The next lecture, "Muhammad the Warrior; Muhammad the Peace-maker; View of Islam's Prophet Ten Years after 9/11" will be at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct.6 in the Coates University Center Fiesta Room.

For more information, click here to visit the Lennox Lecture Series website. Also, read Trinity President Dennis A. Ahlburg's blog post "After 9/11: Are we moving forward?"

Text and photo provided by Andrea Davis of Farmington, N.M., a candidate for graduation from Trinity University in May 2012 with a degree in history and English. She is a student worker in the Office of University Communications.