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DAY OF INFAMY 2001: ECU History Students React to 9/11

On September 11, 2001, students at East Carolina University watched with the rest of the world as the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center collapsed. Shocked and horrified, many of them attended class the next day overwhelmed by emotion. Many expressed sadness at the loss of life and anger at the terrorists responsible for the act. Most expressed confusion and fear about the future. Some desperately hoped to hear from their friends or relatives who lived or worked near the towers. Few had ever heard the names "Osama bin Laden" or "Taliban" before the attack, but endless media accounts would imprint these names on their minds indelibly.

These essays, produced on September 12, 2001, reflect the emotions of a handful of students at East Carolina University. The essays were produced in two sections of Dr. Karin Zipf's course, HIS 3140 "Women in American History." These essays reflect the students' private feelings. At the time, none had any knowledge that anyone other than Dr. Zipf would have access to these essays. In the months following, they came to a decision to donate these essays to East Carolina University's Manuscripts and Rare Books archive.

Dr. Karin L. Zipf,
Assistant Professor of History
November 29, 2001