From:
        "Cecil Rice" <[log in to unmask]>

Fri 6:06 PM


Thanks Max and Ellie:

For the posting.  It is difficult to refrain from retalliation at a time
liked this.  However, anything that is worth doing is difficult.

Cecil
====

My email address is: [log in to unmask]

----- Original Message -----
From: "Norman Holland" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2001 5:29 PM
Subject: Appreciation for calls Re: non-retaliation...


> From:
>         Cynthia Fortner <[log in to unmask]>
>
> 8:15 AM
>
>
> Hello everyone...
>
>     First of all, I'd like to thank Allison Ohlinger for her information
on
> animal rescue efforts.  Several of my students are quite interested in
this
> opportunity to help.
>
>     In my classes, we have had several discussion about non-retaliation,
and
> students are absolutely on edge--with some near breaking points.  At
Purdue (in
> north central Indiana), we have some fundamentalist students who have
entered
> large classroom lecture halls and taken over classes to shout pro bin
Laden
> statements before making a hasty retreat.  We have also been subjected to
a
> series of bomb threats, which reached a high of 5 yesterday, forcing the
closure
> of 5 academic buildings.  Attendance in classes fluctuates greatly from
day to
> day, as you can imagine.   We have had several peace rallies, and
continual
> reminders of how to handle these sorts of "personal" confrontations.  Some
> students are wearing slogans on T-shirts, and the ROTC students are not
allowed
> to wear their uniforms for fear they could become easy targets.
>     In this environment, teaching has taken on a new meaning.  I feel like
I am
> teaching to empower the hearts and souls of my students so that their
futures,
> and mine, can include positive action and compassion, and all in the midst
of
> this horror, threat, uncertainty, and devastation.  I am working to
channel the
> anxiety of my students into a project that we want to send to DC and NY.
We are
> making two American flags out of torn pieces of clothing--old jeans,
T-shirts,
> anything the students want to bring in.  Everyone is sewing by hand the
pieces
> because, in the words of one of my students, "we're stitching back
together
> ourselves and the country."  I am hopeful that the understandable desire
to
> retaliate can be channeled into other activities like this, and worked
through
> in positive ways which build up the soul.
>     Are other universities receiving the threats that Purdue is?  Purdue
is big,
> 38,000+ students, and thousands of staff and faculty.  What are others
doing in
> their classes as we address this most raw moment in humanity?
>     With thought and reflection,
>         Cynthia Fortner
>
> Purdue University
> Dept. of English
> Division of Women's Studies
>