Five months after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks students on the ETSU campus still express a variety of reactions about how the events have changed America and their lives.
“People never thought there was a threat and now that freedom and peace have been threatened, people are more aware of what is going on around them,” said C. Jay Roberts, a junior majoring in accounting.
Students who were interviewed all agreed that America’s way of life has been changed since Sept. 11, but now with the passing of time Americans have returned to their regular routines.
“As a whole, Sept. 11 changed a lot in the short term, but over time people have forgotten,” said Matt Smellcer a senior majoring in design graphics. “It hasn’t affected as many people as it should. Mostly, only people directly involved have been really affected.”
Students said their mindset about how they would react in another crisis also has changed.
“I would join the Army. It (Sept. 11) just got me thinking,” said Stephanie Grissom, a sophomore with a double major in pre-med and accounting.
“I would definitely lay down more of myself than I would have before the attacks,” Roberts said.
Reactions about students’ personal safety also ranged from fear to ambivalence to apathy.
Holly M., a junior majoring in history, said, “It bothered me flying. I was checking out other passengers, and security is still a joke.”
Rachael Campbell, a sophomore from Johnson City, said, “Any fear of future attacks doesn’t affect me, they would be in big cities and too far away from me because I live in a small town.”
Debra Lawson, a junior majoring in social work, said, “I believe if there is an attack it will be something major. Hopefully the government can stop it before it happens, though.”
Some students said that violence overseas will not solve the terrorism issue.
“I don’t think violence is the answer to problems, but I think something has to be done,” said Jamie Pierce, an undeclared sophomore. “It’s not an issue that can be ignored.”
“If we continue to bomb we’re no better than the terrorist. We should continue our hunt for Osama bin Laden, but not our attack on Afghanistan’s people,” Campbell said.
Jason Jones, a junior majoring in chemical engineering, said, “It’s kind of weird Saddam Hussein killed thousands of people and we didn’t do anything about it. But somebody bombs a building and we try to destroy an entire nation.”
However some believe that the only way to stop terrorists is to use force.
“I think the U.S. should continue bombing, I don’t know why. I guess just to let them know they won’t win,” Grissom said.
“If the U.S. stopped the attacks, would the terrorists stop?” Lawson said. “I mean maybe it’s doing good or maybe not, but it makes me feel safer.

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