Eight years ago, two planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York City. On Friday, Vanderbilt students were crashing frat parties. Eight years ago, Americans felt threatened on American soil for the first time in a long time. On Friday, Vanderbilt students feared the threat of rain would ruin their shoes as they walked back from class.

Something is wrong with this picture. Eight years have elapsed since the tragic events of Sept. 11, 2001, and already we are neglecting to memorialize it. As a freshman, I was surprised and saddened by the lack of recognition the day received on campus. Life progressed as normal at Vanderbilt. If a non-American stepped onto campus on Friday, he or she would have no idea it was an important day. No memorials, no services that I know of, no mention of it in The Hustler, nothing of significance to commemorate a day that is so noteworthy in our nation’s history.

Frank Dobson, faculty head of house of Gillette House, hosted a screening of the film “United 93” on Friday evening. Only 11 people took the time out of their night to watch the film and remember. Several other groups on campus performed community service or memorialized the day in other ways. But as a university, we should have done more.

We are old enough that we remember the tragedy of Sept. 11 quite well. I was in fifth grade, in social studies class, and my teacher stopped class to call her daughter in New York City. I know I am not alone in remembering exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news.

Although I did not personally know anyone who died on that day, members of the Vanderbilt community lost loved ones eight years ago. We should stand behind them and let them know they are not alone. We should recognize how hard this anniversary must be.

I am not claiming we should halt all activities to sit solemnly in silence. Not at all. The resilience of our nation is part of the lesson to be learned from Sept. 11. But we should take time to remember. Do community service; attend a memorial service; watch a film. You don’t know how the person sitting next to you in class or waiting behind you in line at Starbucks may have been affected. As a nation and as a campus, we should not forget.

—Jennifer Grasch is a freshman in the College of Arts and Science. She can be reached at jennifer.l.grasch@vanderbilt.edu.