As American flights have tentatively begun to take off again, UW-Madison classes and sporting events are being called off in memory of the victims of Tuesday's New York City and Washington, D.C. plane crashes.
UW System President Katharine Lyall said in a statement that the system's 26 campuses statewide would close Friday afternoon to comply with President Bush's declared National Day of Prayer and Remembrance.
'It's important that we as a university'both students and staff'pause to reflect on what has happened in our country this week,' Lyall said.
Kevin Boatright, assistant vice president for UW System communications, explained that classes would be let out beginning at noon, allowing students to attend a vigil on Library Mall planned for 12:30 p.m.
'[System chancellors] started out by thinking maybe we could just cancel classes over the noon hour,' Boatright said. 'I think the feeling was that the noon hour was the focal point and once this had happened, it would be inappropriate ... to ask students to come back and try to resume classes.'
Boatright added that Bush's request for meditation spurred the decision.
'The Bush proclamation was ... what triggered the decision to cancel any classes,' he said.
In addition to calling off classes, Lyall extended the deadlines for adding classes and receiving full tuition refunds from Sept. 14 to Sept. 21.
'I think the feeling was that for students who were contemplating [adding a class] might have forgotten about it,' Boatright said about the attacks' local impact.
Several Big Ten schools have decided to continue with scheduled classes Friday, despite Bush's request for meditation.
University of Michigan spokesperson Julie Peterson said the university is requesting staff to allow students time off, as necessary, to grieve.
'We're not canceling classes, we are sending a letter from our senior administration officers ... asking people to be flexible in observance,' Peterson said. 'We did cancel classes Tuesday, [and] we did dedicate class time to discussion and reflection.'
A University of Minnesota News Service spokesperson said the university planned a prayer vigil, sponsored by its Interfaith Campus Coalition.
Just as UW-Madison has sought ways to properly honor those lost in the attacks, individuals in Madison and around the country look for ways to renew their patriotism and re-establish order.
The Dane County Board of Supervisors is cosponsoring this afternoon's vigil, and today has unofficially been declared 'Red, White and Blue Day' at offices and businesses across the country.
By Thursday morning, Friday appointments to donate blood at Youngblood in Union South were unavailable. Those willing to wait in line are encouraged to walk in to donate.
'Bring a good book,' one Red Cross employee said.
In addition to the university-sponsored service in Library Mall, other prayer services will be held downtown. A noon mass will be held at St. Raphael Cathedral, 222 W. Main St. and there will be noon and 5 p.m. prayer services at Bethel Lutheran, 312 Wisconsin Ave.
The Wisconsin Union Directorate, along with a number of other student organizations, will host a panel of UW-Madison professors from 5 to 6:45 p.m. today who will share insight as to what steps the United States should take next.
