Photo taken by: Courtnee Cesta / Managing Editor
MAGGIE GILROY
Editor in Chief
Randy Gadikian remembers exactly where he was upon hearing the news of the Sept. 11, 2001 Terror Attacks.
“I was standing outside the library,” Gadikian said. “It was a nice, sunny day and it was windy.”
News of the attack motivated Gadikian and the library staff to organize “Meet Me in the Stairwell,” an annual event commemorating the attacks. It will resume this year on Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m. in the Carnahan-Jackson Center Library Atrium in Reed Library.
“It was just the desire to do something, to memorialize the event somehow, memorialize 9/11 and not just treat it as another day,” Gadikian said of the inspiration for the event.
“Meet Me in the Stairwell” began on on Sept. 11, 2002, the first anniversary of the attacks. It was initially organized by Mary Lou DeWolf, Gadikian’s secretary at the time, and currently Head of Circulation, and Sandra Miller of Archives and Special Collections.
“It’s a big part of history and, even though it’s tragic, I think it’s something that should be remembered,” Miller said. “People should be remembered all the time.”
Gadikian explains that “Meet Me in the Stairwell,” was inspired by a famous phrase from the attacks. The phrase originates from a story surrounding the victims in the second tower, who were forced to exit out of a single stairwell in the core of the building. As there was only one stairwell, and it was the safest spot in the building, it became a meeting place, and the phrase “meet me in the stairwell” was common between escapees.
Gadikian has pulled from his own personal experience as well, including relationships with friends and students who had lost loved ones in the attack.
“At the time, it seemed like everyone knew someone, who knew someone, who knew someone who lost a family member, a friend in 9/11.” Gadikian said.
Participants will assemble at 8:30 a.m., with a moment of silence at 8:45 a.m., in order to coincide with the 8:46 a.m. time that the North Tower of the World Trade Center Complex, the first tower struck, was hit by American Airlines Flight 11.
“Meet Me in the Stairwell” will open with a speech by Gadikian, followed by a moment of silence and a hand squeeze up and down the stairwell in the Carnahan-Jackson Center Atrium staircase.
A lack of publicity has caused low turnout for the event in previous years; however, Miller and Gadikian have continued to hold the event despite this.
“Every once in a while you’re tempted to say ‘we didn’t get a very good turnout; maybe we won’t do this,’” Gadikian said, “and then a student or an employee will come up to you afterward and they’ll thank you for doing it. The stories you get are amazing.”
Gadikian recalled “Meet Me in the Stairwell” from two years ago, which drew a student’s father who had served as a firefighter on Sept. 11, 2001.
“He was here in his uniform,” Gadikian explained. “That was kind of neat. Really touching.”
Past years have included a music performance as well as an art display. Gadikian emphasizes that although he gives the speech in the beginning of the program, the real work is done by Wolf and Miller.
“I hope a lot of students come,” Gadikian said of this year’s event. “Some of them will feel very removed from it, because it’s not part of their current awareness or psyche. But these things happen and I don’t think we can ever forget that.”