Image of 9/11 Attacks taken from the US National Archives

Students watching terror attacks watched in dismay and in silence as the World Trade Center collapsed to ground zero on Sept. 11.

Images of April 19 were flashing as headlines were scrolling across T.V.s around the world. Many want to help victims and firefighters in any way possible. STUCO has been taking charge this past month with coordinating donations and making and distributing memorial ribbons.

“I was really impressed with how the kids maintained and kept on going with the day and how all the kids want to do something…. they’ve gone to try to give blood and all are just saying ‘what can we do,'” STUCO sponsor Beth Taylor said.

During the afternoon of the 11th, a multitude of Oklahomans, including several West students, stood in line for hours to donate blood. However, due to large numbers, many were unable to give. Currently, blood supplies are stable but could change in coming weeks. West will have the opportunity to give blood at school on Nov. 8.

West’s fund drive for victims in New York came to an end on Friday, Sept. 21. For a week, students gave bottled water and monetary donations. Many were surprised by student response which raised over $1400. At the end of the week, STUCO delivered contributions to a Red Cross drop-off site. People can still donate to the Red Cross or any Bank of Oklahoma inside an Albertsons. Feed the Children currently needs bottled water, ready-to-eat snack foods, juice, soft drinks, new blankets, flashlights with batteries, new work gloves, new dust masks, rain gear and monetary donations which can be dropped off at Feed the Children located at 333 N. Meridian.

“Our constitution guarantees everyone to due process. Because of that I believe that the government should investigate, gather evidence, found out exactly who was in charge of this action and then prosecute them according to the statutes of our country. To do anything else would be to belie what our country is about,” gifted and talented teacher Jeanette Cheney said.

According to a Newsweek poll, 80% of Americans are satisfied with (President) Bush’s performance. Some have compared Sept. 11 to Pearl Harbor. One similarity between these two days are attitudes of people. After Pearl Harbor, American people wanted revenge similar to September 11. The government wants suspected terrorist Osama Bin Laden “dead or alive.” A main debate on Capitol Hill is whether and when should the draft be reenacted, how-ever, war on terrorism is a different kind of war so traditional rules could be changed.

Many changes could start in coming months, including airport security, which will be tighter. Currently, passengers arrive an hour earlier and sky marshals could be placed on airplanes soon.

Ready or not, America may be plunged into its darkest and most triumphant hour yet.