Illinois Wesleyan Dean of Students James matthews addresses the 9/11 Commemoration.

Illinois Wesleyan Remembers 9/11

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – In a campus-wide ceremony held under cloudless blue skies on the Illinois Wesleyan campus, members of the community paused Wednesday (9/11) to remember the events of a year ago in words and in music.

• Listen to the Commemoration Program

"Today, we gather to remember those who suffered and those who triumped as time paused 12 months ago," said Minor Myers jr., Illinois Wesleyan president. "Few can doubt that for our generations July 4 and September 11 are now linked in defining who we are and what we can offer to the hopes of the world."

James Matthews, dean of students and professor of French, offered what he described as poem or a prayer or both. Said Matthews: "Let us rededicate ourselves to acts of selfless giving on this very campus and in this very community, drawing upon the boundless talents and goodwill we possess. Let us put aside the foolish arrogance that wealth and resources can protect us from harm. Let us have the courage to learn in and from humility."

• Read the text of Dean Matthews' remarks

Kathleen Duis

In addition, two Illinois Wesleyan juniors offered their perspectives on the events of a year ago and their meaning in the days since. For Kathleen Duis, the attacks in New York and Washington coincided with her arrival in London as part of a group of 14 Illinois Wesleyan students and two program directors who were beginning a semester-long program there. Duis described the uncertainties of being so far from home and friends while watching the images on television. But she also recalled the indescribable feelings of standing outside St. Paul's Cathedral and hearing a crowd of 60,000 sing The National Anthem.

"This is when I knew that the U.S. was not alone," she said. "I was 4,000 miles away from home, but in the end I knew that we would pull through together."

Jordan Ault

Jordan Ault was back on the Illinois Wesleyan campus when the events unfolded. As the days went by, he began to recognize how much had changed. "What happened on September 11, 2001, was not just an attack on New York City or The Pentagon or Pennsylvania," Ault said. "It was much larger than that. Being on campus, many people often talk of the 'Illinois Wesleyan Bubble.' I think there is a much larger domestic bubble that covers our nation...We were happy not knowing what was going on overseas. 9/11 changed all that. The bubble burst."

The commemorative program also featured the premiere of a composition for brass and percussion by Mario J. Pelusi, associate professor of composition and theory and director of the Illinois Wesleyan School of Music. According to Pelusi, "9.11.2001: Symbols and Reflections (In Memory of the Victims of 9.11.2001)" had two goals: to depict, with musical gestures, some aspects of the September 11 tragedy and to base the music on the infamous date, 9/11/2001. The ensemble comprised Brett Dean, Erin Coughlin, Rob Hopkins, and Ren Mathew on trumpet; Chris Davis, Rich Fetzer, Patrick O'Connor, and Lee Price on trombone; Cassie Pribble and Cameron Sullivan on French horn; and David Collier and Amand Legner on percussion.

• Listen to Mario J. Pelusi's Composition: Real Audio / mp3 (660K)