Students bustling through the Diag couldn’t help but notice the large board erected opposite the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library that said “Together We Fall, United We Stand,” listing the names of the 2,801 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. Tacked over the names to form an American flag were more than 600 red, white and blue cards, each with a random act of kindness written on the back.
The activity, organized by the Michigan Student Assembly, offered students a way to make something positive come of the tragedies of last Sept. 11, asking passers-by if they would like to participate in a “Random Act of Kindness.”
“There are plenty of memorials reflecting on what happened last September, and we feel that it’s important to do something constructive, something that looks toward the future and rebuilds,” Rabbi Alter Goldstein of the Chabad House said.
“These cards give students an opportunity to do something kind on behalf of those who died.”
Ranging from slightly humorous to more serious, each card suggested an act of kindness such as “Give to a charity,” “Visit the sick,” “Bring a good friend a flower” and “Call your mother.”
“You don’t necessarily know the person you’re doing it for, but it means something to someone,” said Business senior Atichay Chopra, president of the South Asian Interest Fraternity.
MSA members said they were more than pleased with the students’ participation in the event.
“We were hoping to have all 600 cards gone by 6 p.m. today, and they were all gone by 10!” LSA junior and co-director Jeff Nelson said.
“We’ve already been through 1,200 cards and we still have hours to go.”
“Students were reaching out to others and appreciating being alive and together in America,” said sophomore Pete Woiwode, communications chair for MSA.
With many events scheduled throughout the day, students seemed enthusiastic to get involved.
“It’s a good link between the future and the past,” Kinesiology sophomore Sarah Trowbridge said.
“It’s so easy to do, and you feel good about it,” LSA senior Erin Kopcki said,
“We want this to be an opportunity for people to unite,” said co-director and LSA senior Margo Gannes.
Volunteers from over 30 organizations including the Muslim Student Association, the Black Student Union, the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council, participated in the event.
“We wanted to do this event in a way that would include every group,” Gannes said.
A poster displayed at the event reading, “Against Such Darkness, We Must Retaliate With Light,” reiterated Goldstein’s words.
“The idea now is to spread positive energy throughout the world, and I think people walked away from here today feeling good,” Goldstein said.
- Paul Wong
- DANNY MOLOSHOK/Daily
Bouquets of flowers adorn the Diag, left in memoriam of the victims of the terrorist attacks. Nearby, students invited passers-by to counter violence with random acts of kindness.
Students bustling through the Diag couldn’t help but notice the large board erected opposite the Harlan Hatcher Graduate Library that said “Together We Fall, United We Stand,” listing the names of the 2,801 people who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks. Tacked over the names to form an American flag were more than 600 red, white and blue cards, each with a random act of kindness written on the back.
The activity, organized by the Michigan Student Assembly, offered students a way to make something positive come of the tragedies of last Sept. 11, asking passers-by if they would like to participate in a “Random Act of Kindness.”
“There are plenty of memorials reflecting on what happened last September, and we feel that it’s important to do something constructive, something that looks toward the future and rebuilds,” Rabbi Alter Goldstein of the Chabad House said.
“These cards give students an opportunity to do something kind on behalf of those who died.”
Ranging from slightly humorous to more serious, each card suggested an act of kindness such as “Give to a charity,” “Visit the sick,” “Bring a good friend a flower” and “Call your mother.”
“You don’t necessarily know the person you’re doing it for, but it means something to someone,” said Business senior Atichay Chopra, president of the South Asian Interest Fraternity.
MSA members said they were more than pleased with the students’ participation in the event.
“We were hoping to have all 600 cards gone by 6 p.m. today, and they were all gone by 10!” LSA junior and co-director Jeff Nelson said.
“We’ve already been through 1,200 cards and we still have hours to go.”
“Students were reaching out to others and appreciating being alive and together in America,” said sophomore Pete Woiwode, communications chair for MSA.
With many events scheduled throughout the day, students seemed enthusiastic to get involved.
“It’s a good link between the future and the past,” Kinesiology sophomore Sarah Trowbridge said.
“It’s so easy to do, and you feel good about it,” LSA senior Erin Kopcki said,
“We want this to be an opportunity for people to unite,” said co-director and LSA senior Margo Gannes.
Volunteers from over 30 organizations including the Muslim Student Association, the Black Student Union, the Panhellenic Association and the Interfraternity Council, participated in the event.
“We wanted to do this event in a way that would include every group,” Gannes said.
A poster displayed at the event reading, “Against Such Darkness, We Must Retaliate With Light,” reiterated Goldstein’s words.
“The idea now is to spread positive energy throughout the world, and I think people walked away from here today feeling good,” Goldstein said.