8,000 gather in Royce Quad for UCLA community memorial service
By Daily Bruin Staff
Sept. 12, 2001 9:00 p.m.
 BRIDGET O’BRIEN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Chancellor Albert Carnesale addresses the crowd in
front of Royce at the memorial service Thursday.
By Shauna Mecartea
Daily Bruin Senior Staff
Members of the UCLA community came together for a memorial
service today in hopes of finding comfort and some answers while
honoring the victims of Tuesday’s deadly terrorist
attacks.
Students, faculty, alumni and other community members traversed
BruinWalk, carrying flowers and flags.
People weaved in and out of the large crowd standing shoulder to
shoulder while others courteously made room for mourners to
pass.
“I’m left without words to really describe
it,” said Andrew Shaw, a fourth-year psychology student, who
was sitting on top of a wall by the fountain alone after the
service.
Shaw said the memorial was a way for him to feel like he was
actively doing something to help.
“You know other people have the same feelings and
it’s a release to share it with friends and loved
ones,” Shaw said. “It’s healthier to mourn rather
than hold it inside.”
ANGIE LEVINE Kristi McCune leans on her sister
Sherri’s shoulder during Thursday’s memorial
service.
Standing before a crowd of 8,000 that gathered in Royce Quad,
Chancellor Albert Carnesale began the service by saying
Tuesday’s attack was not simply an attack on the United
States, but on humanity.
As Carnesale spoke on the Royce steps, many in the crowd stared
at the ground with their heads bowed in silence.
The time
has come for us to come together as a community ““ the UCLA
community ““ to share our feelings of shock, sympathy and
sorrow,” Carnesale said.
Carnesale cautioned community members from directing their fear
and anger on others, citing tolerance as a “hallmark of a
civil society.”
Guest speaker Donald Hartrock, ombudsman emeritus, said the
attack was a “wake-up call” to the country regarding
its vulnerability.
EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff The Royce quad fills up for
the noon service.
Hartrock said the people of this country will survive. He also
reminded the crowd that “evil” spelled backwards is
“live.”
“A broken heart is the beginning of healing,”
Hartrock said. “This is a new day, a new age, not only for us
as a community, but the whole world.”
After Hartrock spoke, Carnesale addressed the audience again and
asked for a moment of silence “in remembrance, in prayer, in
unity and in hope.”
The crowd barely moved or spoke ““Â most had their eyes
shut and lips pursed.
“It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop,” said
Emilie Koster, UCLA Fleet Services employee, who was carrying an
American flag and was outfitted in red, white and blue to lift
morale.
The UCLA Brass Quintet broke the silence with their rendition of
“Amazing Grace” and when it ended the crowd of
thousands clapped in unison.
Tears streamed down the faces of many as friends and family
embraced one another and even strangers exchanged knowing
glances.
EDWARD LIN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Bob
Zirgulis protests the terrorism against the U.S. at the
memorial service. Zirgulis also waved his signs in
front of the Westwood Federal Building on Tuesday.
Others left early, unable to handle the strong emotions mixed
with the bittersweet melody.
Shortly after the service, Robert Zirgulis, an international
human rights watch member who, along with others, held signs
saying, “mourn the innocent” and “bomb the
Taliban,” told the crowd that FBI suspect Osama bin-Laden
should be assassinated.
About 30 people gathered around, as he stirred up a debate over
U.S. retaliation.
“I’m trying to be a provocateur,” said
Zirgulis, a UCLA alumnus. “I want to get people enraged and
get them to do something.”
Zirgulis said the United States should go to war to save lives
in the future, but others said peace was necessary.
Meanwhile, representatives from Student Psychological Services
and the Faculty and Staff Counselling were available to answer
questions. At other tables, community members signed up to donate
blood.
 BRIDGET O’BRIEN/Daily Bruin Senior Staff Attendees of the
memorial service file down Janss Steps after the conclusion of the
service.
Many of the people slowly left the service, but others remained
to sit alone or talk with others.
Justin Kurland, a third-year economics student and New York
native sat on the steps in front of Powell Library with American
flag bandannas tied around his wrists to show support.
“It’s ridiculous. I can’t even believe
what’s going on,” Kurland said “I feel very far
away and I want to get home,” he added, noting that he is
waiting for the earliest flight to New York.
