9/11 rekindles chivalrySept. 11, 2001, also known as simply “9/11,” is a day that changed America as we know it. The Twin Towers, the symbol of our influence and unparalleled wealth, came crashing down. The distinguished structures that painted the New York skyline are now a distant memory of safer times. But, as surely as the buildings fell, two towers were emerging from the crepitating debris.

The first tower to surface – something almost forgotten by the people of this country – shot to the sky with the speed of a jet plane. The tower, an idea long hidden under the veil of everyday life, is the American Spirit. Sept. 11 marked the resurgence of patriotism in this country. When terrorists tried to create fear and confusion, they only became the catalyst to an unbreakable sense of unity for all Americans.

The other tower to rise from the detritus of such a tragedy was the chivalry of our local heroes. The tower of heroism shook the country to action and rattled the hearts of every American. The brave response in the face of death was the shock that got this country’s heart beating once more and was the energy that led to a speedy recovery.

Although these monuments emerged from the ruins of the Twin Towers, they multiplied in every state, every city, north, south, east and west. Twin Towers in every heart of every person. America is now the home of towers. Ingrained on each of these idealistic skyscrapers are the words on which this country was founded: “Let Freedom Ring.”

Shon Day, freshman premajor

SGA fund well thought out

In Wednesday’s Skiff, the Skiff View commented on SGA’s establishment of a fund to provide emergency aid to TCU students affected by the hurricane. Despite the fact that credit was given to SGA for having good intentions, it was suggested that the idea was not entirely thought through

I believe it is necessary to shed a little more light on SGA’s efforts to provide aid. It was suggested that the legislative branch of the House had not been consulted on this issue when, in reality, it was the House executive committee that approved the bill to provide the aid.

Secondly, it was only created to provide emergency aid to TCU students whose families may have been directly affected by the disaster, not to reimburse them for their losses. For example, if a student’s family were having financial difficulties in wake of the storm, this fund could ideally provide money to help pay a student’s monthly bills once paid for by their family.

Lastly, SGA does not wish to only provide monetary compensation for those affected, but to also begin a network of volunteers ready to assist in similar disasters.

Furthermore, an effort to rally volunteers in the following days was also started in the same meeting that the emergency relief fund was established.

I believe that SGA took decisive and supportive action to aid the students affected, and sufficient diligence was given to the issue before the final decision was made.

Ryan Panno, junior accounting and finance major and SGA recruitment and retention chairman