Alumni and Friends React To Tragedy September 24, 2001 Friends, Over the past few days I have received a lot of phone calls and e-mails from some of you and I thank you for all your well wishes. I needed to collect my thoughts before getting back to you. As you can well imagine, it has been a difficult time in all of our lives. I am OK...as Ok as can be expected after the events of the last few days. I was the lucky one. By the time I arrived at work at my office on 120 Broadway, just two blocks from the WTC and right across the street, the first plane had already hit and the debris was all over the place. Anyway, amid the total confusion I made it up to my office on the 35th floor, only moments later to witness the horrifying crash of the second plane....we knew right then that we were under attack. The sheer audacity of it all is hard to imagine even after a week has passed. At that time we made our way down to the streets, which was littered with debris, paper, smoke filled the air and there was almost an eerie calm, because I think none of us could imagine or, believe what was happening. As the shock turned into action, I saw people organize, help strangers realize what was happening. I was standing on the corner of Cedar and Nassau street with a few of my co-workers when the news came that The Pentagon was also attacked, all of a sudden people realized that this was a serious, co-coordinated attack by a bunch of mad men, ready to destroy innocent lives. The call went out to vacate the area and start heading away as we were also very close to the NY Stock Exchange, which very well could be the next target. At this point we realized that several of my co-workers had left their keys and wallets back in the office during the frenzied evacuation out of the building. I had all of my belongings with me, but not fully realizing the danger we were in, I walked back into our office, escorting them back into the building. The building security would not allow us to go back into the building, as they indicated that the situation had been escalated to a code RED status. We came out of the building, and was standing on the corner trying to decide on our next move, I suggested that since I live in the city they can certainly come back to my place or, go to one of our other co-workers apartment right downtown, hang out for a while and come back once the emergency passes, still not realizing the full magnitude of the disaster to follow. It’s amazing to think back that for a moment I thought I would walk closer to the WTC to see if I could help in any way. I guess the feelings came because as New Yorkers we all felt we were under attack, and we didn’t want to just stand around and be spectators and we all had friends who worked in the building. At this point, all of a sudden I heard the most terrible noise, a combination that sounded like a giant cascading waterfall, all of a sudden exploding beyond its barriers, mixed in with a jet engine and a sonic boom. I looked up, only to see something horrible that many of you have seen on TV, but being there.....I still have shocks in my body thinking about it...the whole building was coming down, the outcry of disbelief and sheer terror and horror around was and still is too much to bear. We all started to run, but within seconds realized that we were too close to the collapse to outrun the rushing 30-storied high wall of dust, smoke, debris and ash. I turned around one more time to see the approaching wall to realize that I needed to find shelter. With everyone running, I hunched down next to a wall and put my coat jacket over my nose and mouth and within seconds was engulfed in a tornado of dust and debris....I still get chills thinking about it.....day turned into night, I could not even see my own hands in front of me and the noise was heart wrenching. People crying out, calling out names, praying to a higher being. I was having a hard time breathing and started choking on the dust and ash. By the time the storm stopped, I was buried and completely covered in soot, debris in my eye felt like hot iron burning my eyes. What I saw next were incredible acts of kindness, people giving each other water, helping each other clean up, get dust and debris out of their eyes. A Burger King opened its doors and allowed people to escape the choking cloud in the air. Anyway, after several minutes I decided to be on the move again and get away from ground zero. As I made my way out, my eyes started really hurting, luckily I was able to walk into a local emergency room and turned out I had debris in my eyes that had to be flushed out, and breathing was hurting due to the amount of debris in my throat and mouth...I am Ok now. Anyway, I guess I needed to do this for myself and let you know how I am doing. The people who did this, committed an act of unspeakable evil and they will be brought to justice and punished. Make no mistake about it, this is a crime against humanity, in its most cruelest form. Yesterday was the first day I came back to work, and as I gaze at the ruble that was the WTC, I can’t help but shudder at the thought of this act of terrorism. As the hope diminishes about finding survivors, we realize we are attempting to go back to some form of normalcy next to a grave for almost 5,000 innocent citizens. The pain is too much to bear as we hear about loved ones, friends, co-workers still missing. But, we must win back through courage, regain some form of normalcy back in our lives. Take care, be safe and have courage. Shafi Imran ’97(B) New York, N.Y.