Remembering 9/11 according to the Lariat

The World Trade Center center attack happened 19 years ago, and Saddleback’s student newspaper dedicated much of its Sept. 13, 2001 issue to the global event

During non-quarantine semesters, the Lariat publishes in print once a week, and in 2001 it was distributed every Thursday. After 9/11 occurred on a Tuesday, the breaking story arrived two days later to cover the 2,977 people who lost their lives during the attacks in New York City, Washington D.C. and outside of Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

Half the issue covered 9/11, including a front page story by staffer Amy Jones’ “Reactions to terror.”:

Breaking article from the Lariat after 9/11 (Lariat)

The United States suffered its worst terrorist attack since Pearl Harbor on Sept. 11. The attack began at about 8:45 a.m. EOT America woke up to horror as four commercial airliners were hijacked by unknown terrorists on suicide missions. Two of those planes crashed into the World Trade Center’s twin towers in New York City.

Within an hour both of the towers collapsed into piles of debris and flames. The third jetliner crashed into the Pentagon, the world’s largest office building, near Washington D.C. The fourth plane crashed in Pennsylvania: officials believe it was headed for the D.C. area.

In the wake of the tragedy, Saddleback set up a huge screen in the student lounge to broadcast the news for those wishing to watch. The news also was broadcast on the televisions in the cafeteria. Many students watched in horror as the trade towers collapsed.

Saddleback set up a huge screen in the student lounge to broadcast the news for those wishing to watch. The news also was broadcast on the televisions in the cafeteria. Many students watched in horror as the trade towers collapsed.

On the front page, a timeline on the events of the day: 

Timeline of events over the course of 9/11. (Lariat)

Inside the print issue, an editorial from the Lariat staff expressed condolences and extended support out to those who needed it. Resources that can still be utilized today are stated in the article, alongside a message for those who may have been affected by 9/11.

In this situation there is counseling available through the health center located in the SSC building. For those of you on campus who have loved ones that were affected by the trauma of the day’s events, we would like to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families all over the nation and the world. We can only hope that a tragedy as devastating as this will never happen again.

The editorial piece “Country takes a hit; we must stand strong” from the 2001 issue. (Lariat)

Kelly Ziemba’s “Hollywood halts” discussed the effect that the attacks had on the entertainment industry at the time. Hollywood was postponing their most prestigious award ceremonies for the sake of security and locally, shopping centers closed down amidst the frightening news.

As many have been eagerly looking forward to major upcoming entertainment events in Los Angeles, anticipation has turned into understandable disbelief. Included in the list of canceled activities are concerts and award ceremonies, all of which were scheduled months in advance.

Orange County have felt the effect of Tuesday’s tragedy. To the disappointment of many shopaholics, malls across the county were either closed completely, or partially, depending on the decision of individual stores. While Fashion Island in Newport Beach and South Coast Plaza were among the shopping centers only partially closed down, The Block at Orange, The Shops at Mission Viejo, Westminster Mall, Laguna Hills Mall and the Brea Mall were closed. 

Bill Hatfield even noted professional sports that shutdown in “Nation mourns in many ways”:

All 15 of Tuesday’s scheduled Major League Baseball games were cancelled. Other sporting events have also been rescheduled or cancelled including NASCAR’s qualifying run for Sunday’s Winston Cup New Hampshire 300 which was originally scheduled for Friday and the PGA’s American Express Championship, Tampa Bay Classic, and Vantage Championship tournaments.

Click here to see the issue in its entirety.

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