Hijacked Airplanes Devastate World Trade Center, Pentagon
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Terror hits home WEDNESDAY WEATHER Page 2 Sept. 12, 2001 TODAY: Mostly sunny Vol. 102 No. 39 24 pages PUBLISHED INDEPENDENTLY BY STUDENTS AT PENN STATE 30 cents off campus ©2001 Collegian Inc. Hijacked airplanes devastate World Trade Center, Pentagon Chao Soi Cheong/Associated Press Smoke billows from one of the towers of the World Trade Center, and flames and debris explode from the second tower. Terrorists crashed two airliners into the World Trade Center yesterday. PSU graduate, student give first-person reports from New York Page 3 Penn State interns safe Page 3 More University holds vigil Page 3 Attack stuns Americans Plane crashes in Somerset County Page 4 Plane crashes into Pentagon Page 7 flight attendant and two passengers Coverage By David Crary Bush condemns attacks Page 8 aboard the jetliners before they crashed, and Jerry Schwartz “Terrorist attacks can Inside World leaders sympathize, denounce violence Page 11 U.S. officials began assembling a case ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITERS Taliban offers condolences Page 11 shake the foundations of linking bin Laden to the devastation. Osama bin Laden suspected in attack, no evidence confirms role Page 16 NEW YORK — In the most devastat- our biggest buildings, but U.S. intelligence intercepted commu- ing terrorist onslaught ever waged nications between bin Laden supporters against the United States, knife-wielding they cannot touch the discussing the attacks on the World hijackers crashed two airliners into the foundation of America.” Trade Center and Pentagon, according World Trade Center yesterday, toppling to Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch, the top Repub- Students respond to its twin 110-story towers. The deadly President George W. Bush lican on the Senate Judiciary Commit- calamity was witnessed on televisions tee. across the world as another plane The people aboard planes who man- slammed into the Pentagon, and a fourth said he feared an estimated 200 firefight- aged to make cell phone calls each crashed outside Pittsburgh. ers had died in rescue efforts at the described similar circumstances: They alleged terrorist acts “Today, our nation saw evil,” President trade center — where 50,000 people indicated the hijackers were armed with Bush said in an address to the nation worked — and dozens of police officers knives, in some cases stabbing flight By Collegian Staff Writers were crying, some were just staring yesterday night. He said thousands of were believed missing. attendants. The hijackers then took con- wide-eyed, jaws dropped. Students lives were “suddenly ended by evil, des- “The number of casualties will be trol of the planes. Scenes of destruction and news of coming in from Pollock Road stood on picable acts of terror.” more than most of us can bear,” a visibly At the World Trade Center, the dead an earthshaking terrorist attack on their toes trying to see the broadcast Said Adm. Robert J. Natter, command- distraught Mayor Rudolph Giuliani said. and the doomed plummeted from the American soil shattered a clear, warm and asked each other what was going er of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet: “We have No one took responsibility for the skyscrapers, among them a man and September morning at University Park on. Others knelt in circles of silent been attacked like we haven’t since Pearl attacks that rocked the seats of finance woman holding hands. yesterday. prayer. Harbor.” and government. But federal authorities Shortly after 7 p.m., crews began Hundreds of students gazed in shock “There are so many sad faces. It’s Establishing the U.S. death toll could identified Osama bin Laden, who has heading into ground zero of the attack to at the big screen TV on the first floor of weird how it affects everyone,” said take weeks. The four airliners alone had been given asylum by Afghanistan’s Tal- search for survivors and recover bodies. the HUB-Robeson Center yesterday, Erich Fritz (sophomore-electrical engi- 266 people aboard and there were no iban rulers, as the prime suspect. All that remained of the twin towers by as word of plane crashes in New York neering). known survivors. At the Pentagon, about Aided by an intercept of communica- then was a pile of rubble and twisted City, Washington, D.C., and Somerset “How can someone have such disre- 100 people were believed dead. tions between his supporters and har- steel that stood barely two stories high, County came over CNN. spect for human life?” In addition, a firefighters union official rowing cell phone calls from at least one See ATTACK, Page 2. Some were holding hands, some See STUDENTS, Page 2. 2 WEDNESDAY, Sept. 12, 2001 FROM PAGE ONE & LOCAL THE DAILY COLLEGIAN Students, counselors react Clergy stood ready to today at the Wagner Building and an emergency drive will occur tomorrow “The show of support at the White Building. Both drives will talk while students run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If students from the students was have any questions about their donor outstanding. We’re very donated their blood. eligibility, they can call (800) 54- BLOOD. thankful that the By Stef Hamilton Jake Feldman, publicity co-chair of students came out.” and Matt Hymowitz the student Red Cross, said the COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITERS urgency of giving blood is not always Lisa Hart [email protected], [email protected] realized until an unfortunate event Assistant director of donor services for such as this. Greater Alleghenies Region Red Cross All over the HUB-Robeson Center, “I hope students will take this event Collegian Photo people were helping people yesterday. to make a commitment to donate blood Diane Grimm talks with another officer while securing the University Park Airport. The Students huddled to support each in the future,” he said, adding that the information; they are washed over ini- airport was shut down most of the day. other, lines formed for blood donations Red Cross is always in need of blood. tially.” and counselors stood ready for anyone Lisa Hart, assistant director of donor Carmenlita Sayles, graduate assis- needing assistance. resources for Greater Alleghenies tant for CAPS, said there was not a The planned blood drive brought a Region American Red Cross Blood Ser- huge influx of students in need of serv- University Park Airport turnout substantially larger than imag- vices, called the student turnout “unbe- ices yet. ined — all due to the national tragedy lievable.” “At this point it is still wait-and-see,” and the need students felt to help oth- “The show of support from the stu- Sayles said. “I imagine more students ers. dents was outstanding,” Hart said. will come once the reality of what has grounds all airplanes Mike Young, publicity chair of the “We’re very thankful that the students happened sets in.” came out.” remained on the runway in State Col- Penn State Red Cross Club, said the CAPS will be available for students By William Berry At 9:15 p.m., more than a dozen stu- lege. At the time of its arrival, passen- Red Cross collected about 230 pints of again today. “Any student with difficul- and Chris Korman dents still were waiting for their turns gers on the plane knew only vague usable blood, while the group was origi- ties is encouraged to call,” Heitzmann COLLEGIAN STAFF WRITERS to donate. Nate Pettinato (freshman- details about the situation in New York. nally hoping for 120. said. Those in need of service can call [email protected], [email protected] division of undergraduate studies) said “Passengers were visibly upset and “This is an incredible turnout,” he the central office in the Ritenour Build- he had been in line for about four hours. All flights going into and out of Uni- somber,” Welch said. said. Those in charge decided to extend ing. versity Park Airport were cancelled Some travelers at the airport yester- the drive several hours past the antici- “I just wanted to help out,” he said. Penn State President Graham yesterday in the aftermath of the ter- day morning were in a state of shock pated end at 4 p.m. due to the over- “I’m just trying to do my part.” Spanier issued a statement last night rorist attacks throughout the country. after learning of the attacks, airport whelming number of interested stu- Early yesterday, university officials calling the attacks an “enormous For the first time ever, all commercial workers said. dents. reacted as well. tragedy.” airline flights were cancelled across “Two guys from New York were Young said Red Cross volunteers had Penn State responds Amy Neil, Penn State spokesperson, the nation. (pale), they had just gotten out of to turn away about 75 people at 8:30 At about 10 a.m., a meeting was said the university would be keeping At 9:45 yesterday morning, the Fed- there,” said Avis Station Manager p.m. Those donors were given vouchers called by Bill Asbury, vice president of the HUB-Robeson Center and Kern eral Aviation Administration (FAA) Mark Mielke. so they do not have to wait in line to student affairs, to discuss the attacks Building open 24 hours, to allow stu- released a statement canceling all When passengers were told they donate today. on United States soil and how to aid dents to come together to comfort each commercial flights. All arriving inter- would be unable to fly, many sought out “I would like to thank all the people students at Penn State. A system had other. Neil would not say if security has national flights were diverted to Cana- car rental agencies in order to reach who came out; it was a tremendous out- previously been developed for occur- been increased on campus, but said the da.