Students React

When terrorists attacked America with hijacked airliners Sept. 11, Embry-Riddle students felt shock, disbelief, anger, and sadness. When the next day's news, which later turned out to be false, claimed that one or more of the hijackers had been educated at the Daytona Beach campus, they felt the nation's fury.

In Daytona Beach, Heather Capehart, a freshman from Longview, Texas, was in her room when her roommate's father called and told her to turn on the TV because two planes had hit the World Trade Center. "It didn't seem real, the thought of someone attacking the U.S.," she said.

David Brown, a freshman from Scottsdale, Ariz., was still asleep when his roommate burst in with the news that the Pentagon had been hit. "I jumped online and that's the first thing that came up," he said. "It's like we were watching a Third World country."

On the Prescott campus, Ana Goldsmith, a senior from North San Jose, Calif., was stepping into the shower when she heard something on TV about the World Trade Center and wondered why they were talking about a three-year-old event. Then came the news about the Pentagon and she knew it was real. "I thought one of those pilots could be one of our alumni, and I felt a huge sense of loss and insecurity," she said.

Many parents called to see whether their son or daughter was safe. Some, however, were not easily convinced. One young woman whose frantic mother wanted her to return home asked the Communications office to assure her mom that she was not in danger. Brown said he knew a freshman from the Middle East whose parents ordered him to leave immediately for London. He has not returned.

Ibrahim Al Awar, a senior majoring in management of technical operations, went home to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, at his parents' urging, but returned to Daytona Beach several weeks later against their wishes. "My dad said he'd set me up in business if I stayed," he said. "I told him, 'Listen, dad, I really have to go. I don't have time to waste. I need to be myself.' "

When the Embry-Riddle name was dragged into the news, students were angry and annoyed at the sudden attention. "I was okay until the news started talking about us, and the TV crews and the FBI started running around campus," Brown said. "Then there were the bomb scares."

Capehart, a resident of McKay Hall, had up to 10 unexpected roommates one night when students were evacuated from the Student Village during one of the bomb scares.

Although none had second thoughts about attending Embry-Riddle, several worried about the university's reputation. "Where I come from in Texas, they didn't know about Embry-Riddle, but now they do," Capehart said. "They've called and said, 'I heard you trained one of the terrorists.' It's frustrating that some people didn't hear the later news that we didn't train any of them."

Goldsmith, who is majoring in aerospace engineering and aerospace studies, had the opposite reaction. She bought a sweatshirt imprinted with the U.S. flag and Embry-Riddle logo and wore it for days.

Robert Barkley, a professional aeronautics major at the Extended Campus center in Atlanta, Ga., praised the university's careful response to allegations that one of the hijackers was an alumnus. "They did [with the media] what they had to. They could only release accurate information," he said. "I don't think the Embry-Riddle name lost any value at all." He said he shows his loyalty by carrying an Embry-Riddle bookbag wherever he goes.

Harvey sensed "more togetherness" among Daytona Beach students in the days after the attacks. Capehart agreed, adding "everyone wanted to make sure the international students were safe and not blamed."

Despite their best efforts, however, many Arab students did feel judged by other students.

"You saw it in their eyes, the way they looked at you," Al Awar said. "I felt cheap."

Ayman Abdellatif, a business major from Egypt, admitted to being afraid at first. "People were angry, and I don't blame them. I was taking precautions, like not going out at night." But he didn't get any hate stares. "I could pass for Hispanic, so nothing happened."

The Muslim Student Association on the Daytona Beach campus condemned the attacks as being against Islamic teachings, called for the swift apprehension and punishment of the perpetrators, and prayed for the victims' families.

Al Awar gave the university high marks for keeping students, parents, and sponsors informed, and he praised the faculty for making Arab and Muslim students feel welcome. As the only Muslim in Nancy Parker's comparative religions course, he heard her tell the class not all Muslims are the same and to be careful in what they say.

She also took him aside, gave him her cell phone number, and invited him to contact her anytime and even stay at her home. "She told me, 'I'm a mother, too. You could be one of my kids.' My mom was glad to hear that," he said.

Abdellatif said he, too, felt reassured when Professor Robert McGrath, who once lived in Lebanon, told him not to be afraid and that he didn't blame him.

"When these things happen, people blame Islam," Abdellatif said. "But Osama bin Laden isn't a true Muslim. People don't realize that in Egypt we also suffer from terrorists."