Life returning to normal for UNLV students

Jennifer Knight

Thursday, Sept. 20, 2001 | 10:34 a.m.

The halls of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas on Tuesday were brimming with students. A hefty Elvis impersonator belted a rendition of "Love Me Tender" to a lunch-time crowd. A group of fraternity pledges sang, though off key, in the middle of the quad.

Some level of normalcy is returning to UNLV.

"Things seem to be getting back to normal," said Sunny Martin, a junior majoring in elementary education. "You can tell people are still missing from classes, but most people are trying to get back to work."

Students attending classes Sept. 11 discussed the terrorist attacks. There was little else to talk about.

Students in a class on Islamic politics discussed U.S. policy in the wake of the tragedy. An accounting class paused for a moment of silence. History classes focused on how the events will affect future generations of Americans.

On Tuesday instructors returned to curriculums planned before last week's attacks, and most of the televisions in the Student Union were turned off.

"An event like this intrinsically produces questions. Some of them have a historical component," said Paul Werth, an assistant professor of Russian history and Western civilization. "One of the lessons we can draw from this is that we have a fantastically powerful nation, but it remains shockingly ignorant over the world that is has so many interests."

Three candlelight vigils were held on campus last week. Fund-raising events were being planned, and counselors were available to speak with students.

No one will forget the attacks, although this week students allowed for some levity. They listened, laughed and joked as Elvis entertained them.

"It's comedy, it's entertainment and, plus, he sings well," said Joseph Lucchese, entertainment and programming director for UNLV and the student government. "It's also an escape from the routine and the tragedy that took place last week."

Perhaps the biggest sign of resilience comes in the form of unity, said Ken Swartz, a clinical psychologist at UNLV.

"We realized that it's true that there are seven degrees of separation between us," Swartz said. "We all know someone who lived (in New York or Washington, D.C.) or others who were affected. It makes us realize we need to be Americans, but citizens of the world as well."