Remembering 9/11: Faculty Discuss the Day that Changed America
To commemorate the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, the Department of Social Sciences presented “Remembering 9/11: Where We Were.”
The panel discussion, held Friday, Sept. 11 in Stembler Theatre, was organized by Associate Professor of History Gregory Taylor, and featured Assistant Professor of History Dr. Zach Bates, Assistant Professor of History Dr. Gina Bennett, Assistant Professor of Political Science Dr. Drew Cagle, and Assistant Professor of Political Science J. Paul Vasquez.
Each panelist shared personal memories of Sept. 11 and discussed how the attacks affected them personally, professionally, and academically. Their experiences ranged from being a kindergartener trying to make sense of the day’s events to watching the attacks unfold live on television during class in high school. Other panelists reflected on teaching at a university and deciding whether to continue classes, explaining the events to their young daughters as they occurred, and working in Washington, D.C.
Audience members asked questions about the events of Sept. 11 and their impact on the panelists and broader society. Several attendees were particularly interested in how the attacks influenced American culture in the early 2000s, how people interpreted and understood the events as they unfolded, and what policy changes followed in their aftermath. Many audience members also shared their own memories of the day.
The discussion included reflections on how the events of Sept. 11, 2001, shaped the panelists’ intellectual development and influenced their areas of research and scholarship. Panelists also shared the local impact of the attacks, such as the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and its assumption of oversight of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
Story submitted by Dr. Zach Bates, assistant professor of history.