FIU to commemorate 9/11 with day of reflection


Events are part of  “Unity/Diversity: Reflecting on the Meaning of 9/11”


On Sept. 9, as the country readies to observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11, the FIU family will come together to honor victims, survivors, first responders and the armed forces. A day of events has been planned that includes a teach-in and candle vigil.

Students, faculty/staff and alumni will join community leaders, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez, at 12:15 p.m. for “Commemoration & Reflection,” a ceremony at the Graham Center Fountain at Modesto A. Maidique Campus (MMC).

“We have worked hard to organize events that reflect this solemn occasion and remind our entire community of the terrible loss and the incredible lessons from that day,” said Hilary Landorf, director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives. “As a global community, FIU is the perfect place to reflect, commemorate and come together as an international family committed to peace and learning.”

Half-mast ceremony        

FIU ROTC will begin the day by flying the flag in front of GC at half-staff. After a short ceremony, there will be a moment of silence beginning at 8:46 a.m., the time the first plane struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

9/11, Islam and the Arab Spring: An FIU Teach-In

Later in the morning, the School of International and Public Affairs will host a discussion on the legacy of 9/11 and its impact on U.S. policy in the Middle East and relations with Islamic societies.

FIU experts will explore how new societies emerging in the Middle East will respond to the challenges posed by ongoing transformations and the prospects for creating democracies in the Arab world.

The teach-in is scheduled from 10 a.m. to noon in the GC Ballrooms at MMC.

FIU panelists include Majid Al-Khalili, Department of Politics and International Relations; Maya Ferial Boutaghou, Department of Modern Languages; Paul Kowert, Department of Politics and International Relations; Maria del Mar Logroño Narbona, Department of History; Russell Lucas, Department of Politics and International Relations; Mohiaddin Mesbahi, Department of Politics and International Relations; and Noah Weisbord, College of Law.

Commemoration and Reflection ceremony

At noon, students, faculty and staff will gather at the steps of Primera Casa for performances by the School of Music’s Marching Band and Choir, a wreath presentation at the Peace Monument, and multi-denominational readings and prayers. FIU ROTC will salute veterans as well as those who are currently serving.

At 1 p.m., there will be a candle vigil at the GC Pit. The FIU Torch will be lit and passed by veterans, community leaders and students.

At 2 p.m., there will be a meet-and-greet and reception for Arianna Caroli, the multimedia artist who inspired “Unity/Diversity: Reflecting on the Meaning of 9/11” in GC 243.

Caroli photographed the American flag in diverse cultural settings throughout New York City after the terrorist attacks. Her photos, on display on monitors throughout the university until Sunday, Sept. 11, also will be projected on the side of the Frost Art Museum on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 7:30 p.m.

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