Emotions and tears flowed during the Sept. 11 memorial in the University Union Ballroom Wednesday.-

Bob Buckley, faculty senate chair, gave his opening remarks to a packed auditorium where many people were standing in the back and along the aisles.-

In his remarks, Buckley brought up recollections of last year when students in one class were talking about the incident and woman from the Middle East spoke up after sitting silent during the discussion. The student said she was from the Middle East and she didn?t believe in violence and terrorism. She began to cry, Buckley said.-

Buckley said books on the Koran and Islam have in high demand since the attack as people try to understand the thought process behind the terrorist acts.-

Vocalist Janelle Laurenti led the audience in singing the Star Spangled Banner and America the Beautiful.-

During the singing of America the Beautiful, several people in the audience could be seen wiping tears from their eyes.-

Associated Students President Eric Guerra spoke about the direction of the nation after Sept. 11 and said patriotism and respect for this country has increased.-

If Sept. 11 taught the American people anything it?s an understanding of what it is to be humane, Guerra said.-

Guerra said the campus hasn?t seen bad student reaction to the in the post Sept. 11 era compared to other Calif. State Universities.-

There have been incidents where one student was spat on and derogatory statements were made, Guerra said.-

“Over the last year, we?re fortunate enough to learn to speak up and to learn to listen,” Guerra said. “We?re not a melting pot but more like a tossed salad learning to live with the same dressing,” he said.-

University President Donald Gerth gave the closing remarks. “The lesson to be learned and to internalize is that the values of humane civilizations triumph always,” Gerth said. “We live in a world where we need to learn from the past,” Gerth said.-

“I?m here because I have a lot of love in my heart for the people in and want to honor those who died,” senior Sarah Ravens said.-

Some never before seen photos of the Sept. 11 tragedy were on display in the auditorium depicting emergency workers laboring through the ground zero rubble.-