In the past two weeks, our American society has seen a great change occur. The sense of security and safety so many of us once felt has been violated by the terrorist acts committed by a few. In the wake of senseless violence, our country is left to pick up the pieces of life, and use them to reconstruct a new and stronger America.

Those of us belonging to the younger generations in this country have never known life during conflict. We?ve been blessed to live in a time where peace has reigned in our society, so the recent attacks in New York and Washington, D.C have left many of us unable to find the words to express our feelings. Emotions run from fear to anger and for some, even hatred. Without a forum to express these emotions, many of us might have been unable to deal with such a tragedy. However, in the days following the attacks many professors on this campus stepped up to the plate and held open discussions in class, foregoing their lesson plans in favor of life lessons in reality.

One American foreign policy professor has used the events of the last two weeks as a vehicle for learning in his class. Professor of Government William A. Dorman, though visibly upset on the day of the attacks, tried his best to help his students understand and make sense of the attacks on American soil. He imparted his knowledge of the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East as well as American foreign policy, then allowed students to ask questions or simply express their views of the situation. A week after the attacks, Dorman began to teach material from the course in the context of the tragic events. All the while, his students are learning important intellectual material, and taking in information relevant to living in the weeks following a life-altering event. But even more than that, Dorman is helping his students deal with their feelings in ways that may not be obvious, but are nonetheless helpful in dealing with their emotions.

It is professors like Dorman, who open their classrooms to discussion rather than continue immediately with the material on their syllabuses, who truly aid their student?s quests for answers. For these professors, students should be eternally grateful. They?ve helped us try and explain the unexplainable, rather than disregard our feelings and continue as if life remained unchanged. Life as we?ve known it has changed, for better or worse only time can tell, but it will never be as it was before the morning of Sept. 11.

While none of us know what lies ahead in the weeks and months to come, it is safe to say that though many lives were lost in the destruction of three American buildings, the spirit of the American people cannot be destroyed. It is heartwarming, and somehow reassuring, to see American flags waving all over the country. Americans have truly rallied together in the aftermath of an event that could have shattered our nation. Red, white and blue ribbons worn on clothing, backpacks and even in hair show support for the freedom Americans hold so dear. Candlelight vigils across the nation tell the world that though we?ve lost parents, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles in the rubble of the Pentagon and the World Trade Center, we will never lose the spirit of freedom.

Erin Kauffman majors in government and women?s studies. She can be reached at [email protected].