As students on campus realized one year ago, the effects of Sept. 11 spread far beyond the direct tragedies on the East Coast. Racial tensions and increased security were just two examples of changes students felt in the immediate weeks following the attacks.
One year later things are settling down, but the consequences have far from disappeared.
While security and racial tensions have decreased, many UW-Madison faculty and students are still trying to find a balance between individual rights and national security.
UW-Madison police increased the number of people working overtime after Sept. 11 because
one of us were clear exactly what the threat was,"" said UW-Madison police chief Susan Riseling.
""Since then, we've begun to understand the global nature of the threat instead of the domestic nature of the threat,"" she said. ""Generally, on a day to day basis there is no longer a larger presence of police.""
UW-Madison police have, however, continued to staff more police officers at large events at the Kohl Center and Camp Randall Stadium, Riseling said.
Yet increased safety measures on campus extend beyond increased security at large events.
Precautions are being taken to more carefully track the visa status of faculty and students visiting from foreign countries, UW-Madison Provost Peter Spear said.
""We are trying ... to respect the need for safety and security, which is a legitimate concern and at the same time respecting the individual rights and the needs of the research community,"" he said.
According to Spear, the federal government has required restricted access to potentially hazardous biological and chemical research materials as part of the U.S. PATRIOT Act.
Riseling said UW-Madison police have helped to secure threats that could arise in research on campus.
""[UW-Madison police] have worked very closely with the graduate school and all the different research elements of the university to ensure that professors can conduct their research of potentially caustic substances so that they don't fall into the wrong hands,"" she said.
UW-Madison is also working on relationships between foreign and domestic students and faculty, said UW-Madison Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Paul Barrows.
""While we are in compliance with the new laws, like the U.S. PATRIOT Act, we want to make sure to give international students the opportunity to come here and feel welcomed and valued here as members of our academic community,"" he said.
This motivation stems from racial discrimination occurrences on campus following Sept. 11.
""Immediately after the events of last September there were a number of incidents [on campus] where people were expressing hatred and anger toward individuals who they perceived were Islamic or from Islamic countries, whether or not it was true,"" Spear said.
Although he feels the discrimination has decreased, Barrows also said it may resurface during the commemoration period.
""We aren't hearing as many [racial] concerns anymore, but I think below the surface, once we get to the 11th and the focus comes back on this, we should continue to pay attention to those concerns,"" he said.
Participation in commemorative events Wednesday also unifies students, Spear said.
""It's a reflection of trying to become informed, voicing their concerns and talking about what's happening and that's an important part of the university and who we are,"" he said.
