When Flight 11 hit World Trade Center Tower One, Richard Blood (electrical engineering '87) was in a meeting on the 105th floor of Tower Two, where he worked for the insurance company AON Risk Management, Inc. While Blood lost his life when the second plane hit Tower Two, his sister, Rebecca Blood Wynne (chemistry '87), says his actions helped save the lives of others.

"All of the survivors in [Rick's] meeting have told us that he saved their lives because he was the one who made the urgent announcement to evacuate [Tower Two]" when Tower One was hit, Wynne says of her brother, the father of two young children. "He is definitely a hero and we know that he died helping others. That's just the kind of person he was."

In Blacksburg, a horrified university community crowded around televisions in offices, dorm lounges, and other common areas as events unfolded. The administration cancelled classes for the remainder of the day, but faculty and staff members were encouraged to work with students who might need someone to talk to. Support centers were established to provide counseling. University officials began to identify students who might have lost family members in the attacks; an estimated 20 students, as well as several alumni and Tech employees, lost relatives and friends at the crash sites.

Administrators also turned their attention to possible consequences for the university because of its strong international presence. The University Office of International Programs worked closely with the Center for European Studies and Architecture to monitor the safety of its students, as well as the additional 79 students studying abroad. All overseas students and faculty received e-mail updates as events unfolded.

At the Cranwell International Center (CIC), which oversees international students who are studying at Tech, administrators were concerned for the personal safety of those students; before the second building collapsed, they were already meeting with the dean of students, other university officials, and the Blacksburg and Virginia Tech chiefs of police.

"Our question was, would there be backlash?" says Kim Beisecker, director of the CIC, who notes that the university took several proactive measures, including stationing an undercover officer to sit in front of the center "almost immediately."

The center cautioned international students not to engage in political debates with strangers and to "avoid situations where alcohol and emotion might be involved," she says, pointing out that "we see Blacksburg as such a safe haven that we tend to ignore routine safety measures.

"Despite everything, this was probably one of the safest places for these students to be, and this community remains a safe place," she adds. "Although some of the students found themselves in uncomfortable situations, nothing ever escalated."

Beisecker attributes the relative calm in part to the administration's quick and measured response. The day after the attacks, Virginia Tech President Charles Steger issued a statement: "We have more than 100 nations represented within the university community...people from many faiths and beliefs. It would be wrong to seek out and challenge others of our community simply because of their nationality or beliefs....I would ask you to remember that we are a nation founded upon the principles of freedom and liberty based upon the dignity and rights of individuals."

The aftermath

In the days after the attack, several Virginia Tech alumni helped with search-and-rescue and investigative efforts at the various crash sites. Among them was Alan Jacobsen (M.S. mechanical engineering '93), who, aside from his "daytime job" at Ford Motor Co., works on an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) crew, as he has since his student days at Tech. Jacobsen and fellow EMS members from Detroit went to New York City to help with rescue efforts at the World Trade Center. "The decision to go was simple, and I think anyone that works EMS would do the same," he says. "We were able to work with our fellow EMS and fire teams from around the New York area and help them through a difficult time."

Another alumnus, dentist Dave Stover (chemistry '76), says his experience as a forensic odontologist at the Somerset, Pa., crash site was sobering. "I was told it takes about a month to better deal with the issues arising from that experience." In the days that followed, he says, "someone would say something, like 'Crater,' the name of the crashsite, which would recall vivid memories and cause me to pause in order to re-focus on the task at hand." He adds, "My daughter is a freshman [at Tech] now. Knowing that there was a little girl on the flight manifest made me think of her often."

William E. Anderson (forestry and wildlife '80), a special agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) stationed in Harrisburg, Pa., assisted with "Ground Zero" rescue efforts and was part of a federal law enforcement contingent assigned to security at Boston's Logan International Airport on Sept. 23. Anderson, who says a typical response is to assign federal agents to details "without regards to program-specific parameters," was deputized as a U.S. marshal and will begin serving a six-month assignment as a sky marshal on domestic flights in October 2002. "When I became a special agent with the USFWS, if someone had told me that I would be armed and patrolling Logan Airport sometime in the future, I would have told them they were out of their minds," Anderson says. "How times change."

Virginia Tech employees also provided assistance following the attacks. Those with "specialized services" were offered leave to help with the efforts in New York City; Washington, D.C.; and Somerset, Pa. One employee who took the university up on its offer is Marie Suthers-McCabe, professor of veterinary medicine and head of the university's Pet Loss Support Hotline, who has been a member of the national Veterinary Medical Assistance Team (VMAT) since 1999.

Helping care for the search-and-rescue dogs at the WTC site was Suthers-McCabe's first assignment. "I was figuring my first deployment would be a hurricane or a flood," she muses, "not this. You can't imagine how difficult this was psychologically. You don't know unless you've been there. It's all around you--in your peripheral vision, everywhere." It was also disorienting, she notes. When team members were trying to locate a dog on the American Express Building site to administer fluids to it, "we were using a map of New York City saying, 'Where is this building supposed to be?'"

For 12 12-hour days, Suthers-McCabe and her team tended to the dogs, which had to be examined and washed each time they came off the rubble pile. She also helped look after the mental health of the dogs' handlers. "I was chosen because of my background on the human-animal bond," she explains. "They wanted me to be able to lend a listening ear to the dog handlers." The handlers, she says, usually came directly to them from working the pile and wanted to talk about what they'd seen.

The depressing aura of the site threatened to overwhelm the workers, and Suthers-McCabe says she and her colleagues worked hard to maintain as much of an upbeat mood as possible. "We put red, white, and blue bandannas on the dogs, and [gave them] a few toys that came in a box of dog supplies. The handlers loved the toys so much that I sent an e-mail request for more. A box of toys came through a few days later--with a police escort!"

This was just one example McCabe saw of Americans' generosity. When someone at the site put out a call for booties for the dogs' paws, she says, "Everyone in the nation, I think, sent booties! We had a mountain of booties. Some were homemade; it was amazing."

Suthers-McCabe, who had to leave her 10-month-old son with her husband for the duration of her service in New York City, says she was glad to be able to use her skills at a time when help was so desperately needed. "It's something that changes you. It makes you realize, 'let's get our priorities straight.'"

Putting knowledge to work

Virginia Tech was given the opportunity to "put knowledge to work" in the aftermath of the attacks. In early October, Virginia Gov. James S. Gilmore appointed President Steger to the newly created Virginia Preparedness and Security Panel, which will work to protect Virginians and their property from future attacks by analyzing security threats and identifying risks, then examining the state's ability to respond to these risks.

"We have a lot of activities at Virginia Tech that are particularly relevant to some of the problems that we face today in regard to terrorist activity," says Steger. Those activities include DNA research by the Virginia Institute for Bioinformatics that could help identify sources of contamination of water supplies or agricultural products; the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's research on anthrax [see article on page 14]; and the university's work in wireless communications, which proved invaluable to emergency management crews after the attacks.

Additionally, Steger notes, the university's World Institute for Disaster Risk Management, which was created to help prepare for the consequences of natural disasters, can play a role in helping prevent losses from future attacks. Co-director Fred Krimgold says the institute's work could easily transfer to manmade disasters.

"Our expertise is knowing about the probability performance of structures when they are exposed to various effects," Krimgold explains. "Through understanding hazards and vulnerability, you can estimate consequences and losses--and by doing that, reduce them by changing circumstances or affecting vulnerability. The World Trade Center used to be a symbol of success. Now it's a symbol of vulnerability."

Krimgold, who believes early estimates of the losses from the attacks are very low in terms of business, the economy, and transportation, says that, "the extent to which we can control losses will speed recovery efforts in the future."

In light of what happened, he adds, natural hazards "now appear to be our old, well-mannered friends because they're more predictable, understandable."

Tech will also play a role in another task force Gilmore created in the wake of the attacks. J. Douglas McAlister, executive director of public service programs in university outreach, was appointed to the Post-Attack Economic Response Force. The group will assist Virginia businesses, organizations, and individuals in rebounding from the attacks, which led to significant blows to Virginia's economy. That economy relies heavily on tourism, which, on average, nets the state $13.1 billion annually.

McAlister, who will serve on the work-groups for tourism and economic development and trade, says that "travel is one of the most fundamental freedoms Americans cherish. A return to travel is a return to normalcy and economic stability. I'm eager to bring the expertise and experience of Virginia Tech to this effort."

In the classroom

Unlike previous generations, today's students haven't experienced a World, Korean, Vietnam, or Gulf War. But many Virginia Tech professors say their class discussions reflect the students' increased awareness of the world.

Assistant professor of political science Douglas Borer says the 325 students in his World Politics and Economy class have changed radically. "It's a class that's part of the university's core curriculum, so the students were not all necessarily interested in the topic." But since Sept. 11, he says, they have been. "There's a 90-95 percent attendance rate, which is remarkable."

Borer, who in 1999 published Superpowers defeated: A comparison of Vietnam and Afghanistan, has given several lectures outside of class, including one event in October that attracted 600 students. He says he also receives e-mails from students who aren't in his class but who are interested in what's happening.

Borer's book explores the similarities and differences between the U.S. effort in Vietnam and the Soviet effort in Afghanistan, a comparison that has become alarmingly pertinent in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. On the differences between the current campaign in Afghanistan and the two earlier conflicts he wrote about, Borer notes, "During the Soviet-Afghanistan conflict, many countries, such as the United States, supported the anti-Soviet effort. Today, there appears to be no power supporting the Taliban. Most bordering states support the U. S. effort or appear hostile toward the Taliban."

This leads to another major difference with today's conflict, he says. "During the Soviet war, Afghan rebels could move across borders into neighboring countries very easily--the way the Vietnamese did. This isn't the case today. The Taliban really have nowhere to run."

Brian Britt, associate professor and director of the Religious Studies Program, team-teaches (with History Professor William Ochsenwald) an upper-level class on Islam to 23 students, just under half of whom are Muslim. His class, he says, also has displayed an improved "level of discussion and seriousness" since Sept 11. Shortly following the attacks, he let the students decide whether a reporter should sit in on a class discussion. Some of the students were uncomfortable with the idea of publicity for themselves at that time due to potential repercussions, "while others saw it as a real opportunity to demonstrate that Virginia Tech is a place where students are discussing these issues on a sophisticated level," he says. "Their debate was a good example of how the classroom reflects the world."

Britt says it's important, especially now, to raise awareness of the need to study religious traditions. Regarding general public misunderstanding of Islam, he says, "It's frustrating and an opportunity. I think Americans are in a terrible need of knowledge about religious history, and I think this is a great opportunity to draw attention to the need for education about this.

"Islam is one of the fastest-growing traditions in the world--and this country--and Virginia," he continues. "Virginia Tech students will be joining a more religiously diverse workforce, and Islam presents a particularly distinct kind of difference. It's newer on the scene as a well-represented minority in this country."

Britt also notes that "It's very important to distinguish Islam from modern Muslim movements, modern Muslim groups, modern Muslim individuals. Once you do that, it becomes quite clear that Islam is a religion that connotes peace. With 1.2 or 1.3 billion Muslims in the world, we'd hear about it if they were all warlike. They're not."

One of Britt's students, Afghan-American Zohra Atmar, says misconceptions about the Muslim faith and Afghanistan frustrate her. Atmar, who came to the U.S. with her family in 1983 at the age of three, has started wearing her hijab--or headscarf--after the attacks. She says it's not a political statement but more of a statement to herself on her path to returning to her Muslim faith. "I feel like I'm struggling with my faith more now that I've decided to embrace it more," she explains.

The junior political science major, who became a U.S. citizen two days before the attacks, says that when she first heard the news, "my first thought was, "Please, God, don't let it be a Muslim or anyone with brown skin.' I remember the Murray Building [the site of the Oklahoma City bombings in 1995], when everyone thought it was an Arab, how hard that was for us. But when we heard that the attacks were carried out by Muslims, I thought, "Here we go, it's begun. My country's going to get it again.'

"I'm an American girl--but I'm also an Afghan," she continues. "I love America, but I feel so hurt by Americans right now. I grew up in the United States. I learned the Pledge of Allegiance. The American government is paying for my education here. I owe a lot to America. But at the same time, I hear fellow Americans making unbelievable, ignorant statements. People haven't been differentiating enough between the terrorists--I call them 'madmen'--and Afghans."

She notes that her mother's family still lives in Jalalabad, Afghanistan--and that they have not been heard from since Sept. 11. "I'm not pro-Taliban, but I'm not about the bombing, either. One thing people don't realize about the bombings is that when they hear the numbers of casualties, people who are only injured are going to die, too, because there are no hospitals, no health care," she points out. "The Afghan people have suffered for so long from perpetual hunger, perpetual drought, perpetual fighting."

University as a microcosm of the world

In the days following the attacks, Virginia Tech's international students wanted to show their support for America, so the 30 different international student groups, united under the Council of International Student Organizations (CISO), met to compose a letter of support for the university community and for the country.

"That was probably one of the best experiences of my life," Beisecker says. "These student groups have such diverse backgrounds, and, really, many of them have conflicting backgrounds, but they worked together to create this letter. It wasn't an easy process, but they did it, and they talked about how proud they were to sit in one room and do this."

Aysen Tulpar, president of CISO, agrees. "We formed a microcosm of the world, sitting in that room--all different cultures, religions, and backgrounds. And Virginia Tech is a wonderful microcosm of international cultures," she continues. "Since I've come here, I've met students from Japan, India,Ésomething I wouldn't have done if I'd stayed in Turkey."

Tulpar, a Muslim from Turkey who is pursuing her Ph.D. in chemistry, stresses how important it is that everyone realize that "this was a terrorist attack--it wasn't from any one nation. This saddened everyone around the world."

As the dust from the attacks continues to settle, Beisecker voices her concern over proposed legislation for immigrants, which will have direct repercussions on international students. For example, if they go home for a visit, they may have difficulty returning to the United States. She says she's particularly concerned about students visiting their homes over the winter break. "We don't want to say, 'don't travel,' but we do want to give them some warning that they may face difficulties from an immigration standpoint."

A national trend of international students returning to their home countries--of the 570,000 foreign students in the U.S., about 40,000 of them are from Arab countries, according to the American Council on Education--seems to be due more to parents' desire to have their children closer to home than fear of backlash, Beisecker says. Tech has had only a few Kuwaiti students leave, primarily because the Kuwaiti Embassy offered to get them home.

However, she wonders what will happen with applications next year. "On the one hand, I think we can expect some different numbers, but on the other, will Virginia Tech's 'safer'' location garner more international students? We don't know."

"We must come together"

Virginia Tech students seem to be absorbing what they're hearing in the classroom and on the news. Different groups on campus have held fundraising rallies and benefit concerts--and also some anti-war protests, providing a scene that alumni from the '60s might find familiar--to assist with the relief effort.

On the day of the attacks, an estimated 1,500-1,700 students gathered for an informal prayer vigil on the Drillfield. That same day, students lined up to donate blood, some of them waiting so long that American Red Cross staff members bought pizza for them.

The students also formed an organization in response to the attacks. Vivek Mehta, a sophomore studying business and president of the Residence Hall Federation, explains, "The day after the attacks happened to be the Celebration of Diversity program, and we all decided to get together afterward to discuss what we could do to bring the campus together."

The result was Hokies United, a student group determined "to heal the entire campus community--to provide a venue of support for all students," domestic and international, says Mehta, who is president of the group. They adopted as their motto Ut Prosim, "that I may serve," which is Virginia Tech's motto. "We figured this is an effort to bring the community together, what better motto could we choose?" Mehta says.

One way group members tried to unify the campus was by selling Hokies United t-shirts. "It was pretty cool to walk into a classroom and see a bunch of people you didn't know wearing the shirts," Mehta says. Hokies United used the money from the sale of the shirts to cover the costs of production and has donated the remainder--$15,000, so far--to the American Red Cross.

The group also held a rally on the Drillfield on Sept. 19. Despite a downpour, an estimated 400 students and faculty and staff members heard several speakers, including Mehta; Tulpar; Steger; Ben Dixon, vice president for multicultural affairs; renowned poet and University Distinguished Professor Nikki Giovanni; and Head Football Coach Frank Beamer.

A few international students spoke at the rally, including senior electrical engineering major Sartaj Dhami, who stressed that "we must come together as a community, or we will fail as individuals."

Of the support received by Hokies United, Mehta says, "I am very impressed by the university's efforts, particularly the president's office and the dean of students' office. They got us everything we needed to be successful. This made me feel really good about the decision I made a couple of years ago to come to Tech."

Mehta feels as though the overall Hokies United efforts was a success for the students. "We were there, we united the campus. What more could we ask for?"

Richard Blood (electrical engineering '87) is Virginia Tech's only confirmed alumnus to have died in the Sept. 11 attacks. One of his brothers, William C. Blood (mechanical engineering '89), credits Rick with his decision to come to Tech. "I knew that Rick had his act together and he made all my tough decisions easy. Rick had chosen to study engineering at Virginia Tech, so my decision was easy. I applied to Virginia Tech and the engineering school."

Rick Blood's college roommate, Andy Kolls, (biochemistry, agriculture '87), recalls his friend's good nature, giving as an example the time Rick's coat was ripped during a mock wrestling match with a friend Rick had nicknamed "Oven": "It was pretty much give-and-take until Oven got a hold of Rick by the arm and started spinning him. Ov spun him so hard he tore Rick's sleeve clean off. We were in college, we were poor, and that coat cost a pretty penny. Maybe two months' food supply. But Rick didn't yell at Oven, he laughed. We all laughed. We never stopped laughing."

Rick's father, Richard M. Blood, agrees with Kolls about his son's joyful nature. "Rick truly loved life, loved to laugh, and loved New York City. He had a unique ability to know when people needed him and he always found time to include them in his busy life. Rick was a trusted and loyal friend," Richard says. "He led a life that brought honor to his mother and me."

Blood's wife, Kris Dal Pozzol Blood (business '88), and parents, Richard and Constance Blood, have created the Richard M. Blood Jr. Memorial Engineering Scholarship in his honor. Alumni wishing to contribute to the fund may do so by contacting the College of Engineering development office at 540/231-6586.