Sept. 11 tragedy brings unity to campus

By Taren Caudle
Published: Thursday, October 18, 2001

“This has to be something good,” exclaimed Julius Scott as he walked across the Student Center patio Oct. 11, exactly one month after the terrorist attacks.
Green frisbees whizzed across the patio, free drinks were being tossed out, and loud music emitted from the speakers set up on a large stage. Roughly 1,000 people attended Rowan’s Diversity Concert for Unity, held in light of the Sept. 11 tragedies.
“This event was to show that there is strength, diversity, heritage, and that we stand united against terrorism,” said Kathy Owens, a member of the Know It campaign, a division of Rowan’s Tobacco Prevention Project.
Along with the Student Government Association, the Know It campaign gathered clubs and organizations such as the Outdoor Adventure Club, the Sociology Club, The Newman Center, Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority and four diverse, talented bands.
Angelo DiPilla, a Rowan graduate and member of the Know It campaign, was a founder of the successful event. The week after the terrorist tragedies, he sought to “express emotions students felt on Sept. 11” by organizing a concert exactly one month after the attacks.
Despite the time factor and people’s doubts, DiPilla made it happen. When the brainstorm began to take shape, “everyone wanted to be a part of it,” DiPilla added.
“Since Sept. 11, we’ve felt a greater desire to reach out to people,” said Sarah Schell, vice president of the Newman Club. That organization collected donations, while others held raffles benefitting New York. Free beverages were donated by Heritage Dairies and frisbees were handed out by clubs. A “Rowan Chain of Unity” was constructed with an individual’s message about unity on each link.
Among the organizations to attend were Rowan’s student volunteer EMS, which collected money for The Cantor Fitzgerald fund, a fund for New York children who lost their parents in the Trade Center attacks.
Throughout the day, diverse types of music were played by four different bands.
Cletus McBride opened the event with its Irish sing-along music. The Surf Daddies followed with sounds of surf and rap, and then Smash Palace took the stage with original rock ‘n’ roll. The event closed with jazz by Rowan’s own Brian Betz Quartet, who played a rendition of John Coltrane’s “Impressions.”
Students who attended the event were delighted by the opportunity to stand together as one.
“It felt great to be a part of the unification displayed by Rowan’s student body,” said sophomore Larry Homan, who, despite not being informed of the event, was lured by the music that blared from the Student Center, as well as by the light and diverse mood of the social gathering. “It’s like we stood for something greater.”

Originally Printed in the Rowan University Whit.

Taken from www.thewhitonline.com