|
|
School of Business > UPDATE > Fall 2001 > Article Alum Recalls Impact of September 11 Shortly after the September 11 attacks, Interim Dean R.D. Nair emailed business school alums on behalf of the School of Business, expressing concern and hoping to find them unharmed. Many alums wrote back to share their feelings. Below is one of the many poignant messages received. I was a few blocks away when the attack on the World Trade Center occurred. My colleagues and I were briefing the heads of the city hospital administration, who were summoned away to respond to the disaster. We evacuated and stood dumbfounded, watching the torrent of smoke above and the surge of people moving swiftly away. My impulse was to head to the building, in hopes of being able somehow to help. Instead, I stayed with my co-workers, and this is possibly the only reason I’m able to write to you now. For a few days, my family spent time together, comforting our son, attempting to make sense of the world, profoundly changed. Now, because of the nature of the organization I work for, my focus has shifted to the impact of the event on immigrants. Some are unable to get home to Chinatown because they lack immigration documents and cannot pass checkpoints. Some remain unwilling to leave the house for fear of behing attacked - missing school or work and leaving families without resources. Some are unable to access relief because of immigration status, while others fear coming forward to report family members who are missing. Work provides a focus and mission. Without it, I would be overcome with the devastation of the day. I’m glad for the education I received at UW, for the way those years in Madison shaped my life. My heart goes out to all of you. Best, Adam Gurvitch, BBA ’87
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
