It has been 23 years since the devastating terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001.  

News spread of these attacks fast, and many people felt the attack deeply on many different levels. Whether knowing someone that was physically at the attack or feeling sympathy for their fellow Americans in peril, millions of Americans were affected.  

After a dreadful day for America, the 2001 staff of The Daily Eastern News got to work on a critical print for publication.  

The team covered the effects of the terror attacks felt around campus on the day. Starting out with reposted coverage from the Associated Press that examined the tragic attacks, highlighted by former President George Bush’s vow that the United States will seek to avenge the lives lost in the attacks. 

Class at Eastern continued as scheduled. Western Illinois University was the only state university to shut down for the day in response to the attacks.  

There was rampant worry over the county with many asking what if there is a plan to attack here Charleston. City officials announced that Charleston was not seen as a high target area.  

Many students expressed that they were appalled at the acts.

Students spent the day hearing about and watching the fallout of the attacks unfold. As flags flew at half mast, students were left in shock, left to wonder what all had happened.  

The Coles County Airport barred anyone with an individual plane from flying after the attacks. Up to the north at Champaign’s Willard Airport, a plane from Chicago made a landing, as a part of the nationwide grounding of flights.  

Coincidentally, on the day Eastern had a blood drive scheduled to take place. The attacks caused students to line up to donate their blood in hopes of helping victims.  

International students at Eastern addressed some of their immediate safety concerns.

This was due to the immediate angry reactions from some individuals in response to the attacks. Bud Edwards from the Counseling Center that year was quoted by The News warning of the importance of not saying comments that are hurtful in nature.  

As day turned to night, the Martin Luther King Jr. University Grand Ballroom was filled with students trying to make sense out of the tragedy. Representatives from campus ministries hosted the students in a service that helped to comfort the Eastern community.  

In the sports world, a possible weeklong suspension was under consideration. The president of the NCAA at the time, Cedric Dempsey, said they were in full cooperation with Bush, and that all teams were allowed to postpone their games that week.  

Here at Eastern, Eastern’s women’s soccer game against the University of Missouri was canceled. Many of the other teams in the Ohio Valley Conference had also canceled events due to the tragedy.  

Even though many students currently at Eastern were not yet born when 9/11 happened, many here in the Charleston community and across the country continue to remember and honor the tragedy back on 9/11.

Gunnar Olson can be reached at 581-2812 or deneic@gmail.com.