UPDATE (from 9/30/01):
During 9/11 (September 11th, 2001), I’ve received many emails, some with concern for me, living in NYC in downtown Manhattan, and others with their accounts of the event, including a few who were actually in the building and people who were late to work that day. I’ve lost 2 personal friends at the WTC attack, and serveral acquaintences/contacts that I made over the years. My heart goes out to all those who were affected by this tragedy. Below are emails from other people so that you can know that they are ok, as well as views from other people. Also posted emails I got that day to show how things ensued…

Other posts you might be interested in on 9/11/2001:
9/15/01: Volunteering for Freedom
NYC Update 9/13 11:30AM
9/11: I’m ok, how’s everyone else?

Subject: Hello?!
To: “Edmund J. Song”

ed, i tried calling you to see if you are ok, but the
phone lines are down so all i get is a busy signal.
please write back as soon as you get this so i know
you are safe.

charlene

Subject: Let’s Unite this Time

My Dear Classmates and Friends:
I am writing to urge everyone to lift the market together on
Monday, or at least hold it at the current level. I know this sounds not
only stupid but irrational, even suicidtal. We are all trained to be
prudent professional businessmen/women, and the attempts to outplay the
market are quite risky, not to mention the denouments.
However, when we all sit back at the couch, and think about the
people who died during the tragedy; some of them are our friends- people
who had gone through the countless group projects with us. They are
borned into this world- some with blessed, some without. Some with
dreams, and some with ambitions. Some with wife and kids, and some with
families and friends. These souls are destroy instantly by those
coldblood terriorists. I just can’t hold back the thoughts of
retaliations. But the options are quite limited because most of us
really can’t join the possibile military actions this week. The only
thing we can really do and make our roaring voices out to those killers
is to show them that we, the United States of America, will not be
shaken.
I only have couple thousand dollars, and I know this will not make
any difference, but TOGETHER, WE WILL. I have prepared and willing to
take the consequences of losses, but what ethics really is is to do
something that you will be able to rest comfortably.
So, cancel your shortings on the index. I hope we can at least
hold the market at its current level. What if we lose? So what? at least
we tried, and our voices, angry and efforts will not be unheard.
One can never understand the prides of being an American fully,
unless he or she lives here.

As a remembrance to two of my friends died in WTC- Alex and Jenny

Sincerely
Louis Li

**Eddie’s Commentary: Jenny he’s talking about here is our friend Jenny Wong, Class of 1998**

From: Chiang, Caroline [NEUUS]
Subject: FW: info.

eddie —
sent this to you at work and then tried to call you.
i was getting worried!
so glad to hear your voice on the voice message.
please let me know how you are.
c

Subject: NYU Listserve….is everyone ok?

Hey guys,
I’m sorry that I’m using Scott’s list.

This was so scary. I pray for any of you guys who worked at the WTC or
who had friends and family there.

I know I don’t know a lot of you and a lot of you are like who the hek am
I, but we were all classmates in one way or another and I’m concerned
about all of your safety.

You are all in my prayers and especially those of you I know personally,
if you could reply to me or give my cell a call when the lines open again
I would truly appreciate it.

Take care and God bless you all
Dave Bao
Stern, Class of 2001
Cell: 917-XXX-XXXX

Subject: First Student Council Meeting

FIRST STERN STUDENT COUNCIL MEETING!
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2001
12:30PM
IN
SURDNA NORTH
(FREE FOOD!!)

**Eddies Commentary: Wow… NYU had events planned that day**

**Eddie’s Commentary: well I’ll be… I had a package scheduled to come as well!**

***Do not reply to this email. UPS and USER01 will not receive your reply.

At the request of USER01, this notice alerts you the following shipment has been sent.

Important Delivery Information

Scheduled Delivery:11-September-2001

Shipment Detail

Ship To:
23 WAVERLY PLACE EDMUND J. SONG APT. 3X — NEW YORK NY 10003
US

Number of Packages:1
UPS Service:Ground
Weight:3.0 LBS

Tracking Number:1Z1300150300168041
Reference No. 1:1

Merchandise Description:2-134620-01-99-HM PO#:

**Eddie: This was sent to all NYU students 1 hour after the towers fell**
Subject: State of Emergency

Dear Stern Community-

Please be informed that due to the State of Emergency, students should
remain at home. Bridges, tunnels and most public tranportation are out
of working order. Students who reside in the city should remain in
their homes and residences.

If you are already on campus, please remain on campus until we hear
further word regarding travel safety.

Families and friends who may be affected by this tragedy are in our
thoughts.

Sincerely,
The Undergraduate Dean’s Office

**This one came shortly after lockdown of NYC**
Subject: NYU Classes Cancelled for today, Setember 11, 2001

We have just received word from the President’s office that classes for
the rest of today, Tuesday, September 11, 2001 are cancelled.

We will continue to communicate with you through e-mail as we have
updates.

I have made arrangements for Tisch Hall to remain open for the benefit
of our commuters who may not be able to get home this evening. We are
also trying to have some refreshments available to the extent that
deliveries are still possible.

For those who are in need of counseling, please know that the University
Counseling Center has set up its office in the Coles Sports Center.

Please check NYU’s website to see if classes will be held tomorrow.

From: Bernoskie, Brandi
Subj: nyc
everyone…
i just wanted to let you all know that i’m okay. my cell phone is down and
all the other lines are nearly impossible to get through on. if you want to
talk to me, use AIM. if anyone is in nyc and needs a place to stay, you’re
welcome at my place…don’t bother trying to call, you can just come. my
address is XXX east 6th street between ave A and B, apartment 2. or email
me…
pray for us all.
love,
brandi

**This one is from the President of the entire NYU school**
TO: THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
FROM: President L. Jay Oliva and President-Elect John Sexton
RE: The Terrorist Attack on Our City
DATE: September 11, 2001

We know we speak for the entire NYU community when we express our deep sorrow and
horror over the outrageous terrorist attack on this city.

So far, it would appear that no NYU students, faculty, or staff were hurt or killed. But we
already know of loved ones - members of our extended family - who were victims, and
our hearts go out to those families.

There may be difficult days ahead. We are a close-knit community, and we should rely
on one another. We should not be afraid to turn to one another for help, and we should
be quick to offer it to one another.

It is hard to capture this tragedy - this crime - in words, but we will say this: if New
York City is known for anything, it is known for its determination, its courage, and
endurance. We share more than a name with this city - we share its characteristics and
its virtues.

Subject: let me know you’re ok

Hi guys,

I hope that everyone is well a nd everyone is safe. I wanted to let you know that although my office and client offices were in the Trade and Financial Centers, I thankfully am in training right now in Dallas.

Please be safe and take care. Let me know that you and your love ones are ok. I will be driving up and will be back on Thursday.

Please be ok,
Shari

Subject: Re: let me know you’re ok

Hey Everyone - It’s Wed at 3:30 in the afternoon and I just got home about 1 hour ago. I saw the first plane hit the North Tower and was outside when the second plane hit the South Tower. I got hit by something (probably from the South Tower breaking apart) and have a few cuts & bruises, but otherwise I’m okay.

I ran toward the water and up to 40th on the West Side Hwy. They wouldn’t let me cross the West Side Hwy because of emergency vehicles so I was forced to take a ferry to Weehawken, NJ and spent the night there.

Hope everyone you know is alright and safe. Keep me posted if you hear about anyone we know.

Best Regards,
Elizabeth Hsu

Subject: I’m here

Eddie,
Just wanted to let you know that if you need a place to stay, or food or anything please let me know. I don’t know if you made it back to the city, or if you will right away. I also wanted to send my sympathy, I am sure that you had many friends in that area. If anything happened to them, you and they are in my thoughts.

Please call if there is anything I can do.
Take care

Greg Hojnacki

**Greg is a coworker of mine in the IMLDP program at J&J**

Subject: hey

hey
denise told me that you’re safe. hope you’re holding up.
just wanted to let you know that you left a business card here w/ some numbers on it. let me know if you need it.

Cathy Nguyen

**Cathy is also a fellow NYU alum working at J&J. I was at her desk when it happened. The business cards were #’s that my mom gave me other the phone when I was able to get through to call all our relatives to tell them we’re ok**

**An NYU Communique on 9/12**

TO: THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY
FROM: The Office of the Provost
RE: Update on classes at NYU
DATE: September 12, 2001

The Mayor has once again requested that all activities in Manhattan below 14th Street be
curtailed tomorrow, Thursday, September 13. Accordingly, the University will suspend
classes tomorrow, with the exception that the Medical School and the Dental School will be
open Thursday, September 13, holding classes and resuming normal operations. All those
designated as key staff and those who provide critical services are asked to report to work
tomorrow; other employees who can reasonably get to campus are also asked to come to work
to help out as needed.

The attack on the World Trade Center has been a transforming event for everyone: for
this city, for this nation, and for the entire world. Although classes are cancelled, I would
encourage students, faculty and staff to find ways to come together and share their
thoughts and their concerns about this tragedy.

I think it appropriate to note the remarkable spirit that has prevailed throughout our
University in dealing with these difficult circumstances: students from across this campus
welcomed the vast majority of those who had to be evacuated into their rooms. It has
been and continues to be an admirable display of generosity, kindness, decency and
community spirit.

Evacuated students who were unable to make alternative sleeping arrangements were
accommodated at Coles last night, and this arrangement appears to have worked. The
University will continue to accommodate at Coles those who are unable to make other
arrangements. The University will continue to provide counseling, medical and
pharmacy services through the Student Health Center at 726 Broadway. Meal service
will continue to be provided at Weinstein Hall, Third North, Rubin Hall, and Hayden
Hall.

I am pleased to report that the Broome Street and Lafayette Street residences will be re-
opened as of 4:30 pm today. Transportation and escorts to these residence halls will be
provided to and from Coles, as permitted by the City. Please be aware that due to
infrastructure problems in the area, phone service is inoperative at these residence halls,
and there are some problems with internet connectivity.

At this time, the other residence halls south of Houston St. remain closed. Those
facilities in Manhattan’s southernmost tier will take longer to open; several are now
without utilities. We will provide updates as we learn more.

We realize that the continuing lack of access to personal belongings - clothing, study
materials, etc. - is a significant problem. We will work with the City to arrange for
access to residence halls at the earliest possible moment; we will update you shortly.

Many praiseworthy volunteer efforts have been undertaken by NYU students, faculty,
and staff. The Housing Office has started a clothing drive, with the donated clothing to
be provided to firefighters and rescue workers who are continuing their efforts down at
the site of the World Trade Center. The faculty and students of the Division of Nursing
volunteered at St. Vincent’s Hospital, Tisch Hospital, and the center established at
Chelsea Piers, among other facilities. Many of our students have gone to St. Vincent’s
and other facilities to donate blood. Several of our psychology and counseling programs
have been in touch with the public school system to assist them in the establishment of
crisis counseling teams. Many students, particularly RAs, volunteered at Coles to ensure
the smooth provision of services there.

These efforts, which are emblematic of our motto as a “Private University in the Public
Service,” are a matter of great pride. They are symptomatic of a widespread desire to
help, and with that in mind, the University will be moving to set up a centralized
volunteerism “clearinghouse” to insure that we are matching volunteers with needed
services.

In times such as these, the impulse to gather together, to share courage, compassion, and
condolences, is very strong. Each school will communicate with its students and faculty
about events and gatherings that address the difficult events of the past few days.

Continue to the check the University web site for updates and other important links,
including sites that can direct members of the NYU Community to volunteering
opportunities. We will also continue to provide information through the two telephone
numbers we have established, (212) 998-1212 and (212) 998-1220.

From: Zupa, Laura
To: “Edmund J. Song”
Subject: Re: you ok?

I am fine, but I was thinking about you and am so glad that you e-
mailed. This is my first time at a computer since Tuesday. I hope
that you are ok. Where are you staying? If you need anything,
please call (212) XXX-XXXX (hm).

Widespread but only partial news coverage was given
recently to a remarkable editorial broadcast from
Toronto by Gordon Sinclair, a Canadian television
commentator. What follows is the full text of his
trenchant remarks as printed in the Congressional
Record:
——-

America: The Good Neighbor.

“This Canadian thinks it is time to speak up for the
Americans as the most generous and possibly the least
appreciated people on all the earth.

Germany, Japan and, to a lesser extent, Britain and
Italy were lifted out of the debris of war by the
Americans who poured in billions of dollars and
forgave other billions in debts. None of these
countries is today paying even the interest on its
remaining debts to the United States.

When France was in danger of collapsing in 1956, it
was the Americans who propped it up, and their reward
was to be insulted and swindled on the streets of
Paris.

When earthquakes hit distant cities, it is the United
States that hurries in to help. This spring, 59
American communities were flattened by tornadoes.
Nobody helped.

The Marshall Plan and the Truman Policy pumped
billions of dollars into discouraged countries. Now
newspapers in those countries are writing about the
decadent, warmongering Americans.

I’d like to see just one of those countries that is
gloating over the erosion of the United States dollar
build its own airplane. Does any other country in the
world have a plane to equal the Boeing
Jumbo Jet, the Lockheed Tri-Star, or the Douglas DC10?
If so, why don’t they fly them? Why do all the
International lines except Russia fly American Planes?

Why does no other land on earth even consider putting
a man or woman on the moon? You talk about Japanese
technocracy, and you get radios. You talk about German
technocracy, and you get automobiles. You talk about
American technocracy, and you find men on the moon -
not once, but several times - and safely home again.

You talk about scandals, and the Americans put theirs
right in the store window for everybody to look at.
Even their draft-dodgers are not pursued and hounded.
They are here on our streets, and most of them, unless
they are breaking Canadian laws, are getting American
dollars from ma and pa at home to spend here.

When the railways of France, Germany and India were
breaking down through age, it was the Americans who
rebuilt them. When the Pennsylvania Railroad and the
New York Central went broke, nobody loaned them an old
caboose. Both are still broke.

I can name you 5000 times when the Americans raced to
the help of other people in trouble. Can you name me
even one time when someone else raced to the Americans
in trouble? I don’t think there was outside help even
during the San Francisco earthquake.

Our neighbors have faced it alone, and I’m one
Canadian who is damned tired of hearing them get
kicked around. They will come out of this thing with
their flag high. And when they do, they are
entitled to thumb their nose at the lands that are
gloating over their present troubles. I hope Canada is
not one of those.”

“Stand proud, America!”

Hey Shari and everone else,

I’m glad to hear that you’re ok and that you were safe from the immediate
danger. Me and my family are doing ok. My parents had a close call. I
watched from afar. I hope all of you and your families are safe and
healthy. Take care of yourselves.

-Joe

I believe the best thing I heard from this whole tragedy was from a friend
of my sister’s. He said that he thinks that when we finally rebuild,
instead of two towers, we should build three and make the middle tower
larger than the other two. that way it would be like giving a middle
finger to the bastards that did this.

-Joe

Subject: Re: Eddie’s Party!

hi eddie,
thanks for your concern. sorry it took me long to reply. i was very
close to the scene, but i am fine. thanks again. i hope you are
coping well, too.

i will talk to you later,
hyo-jung

***Eddie’s Commentary: she replied to my birthday party evite I sent back in march to contact me***

Subject: NYU sings in support of the rescue effort

Hey guys,

Some friends and I are organizing a bunch of people to sing for workers
in the rescue effort. I’m gonna try to teach a 3 part harmony to the
Star Spangled Banner in the morning, and sing in the afternoon.

Meet in Gould Plaza at 10.30 am Saturday morning, wearing red, white and
blue if possible.

I will provide masks and hopefully water.

Let anyone you want know about this. If you have big connections with
the University (*ahem*JessD*ahem*Sachin*ahem*JoeG*ahem*), please spread
the word.

Please show your support!

Lotsa love,
Yon-Loon Chen

Subject: Hoping your well

Dear Eddie:

In light of the surrounding terror that has struck New York in recent days, I just wanted to assure your health and safety. I regret that our correspondence at this time lies within the confines of this terrible tragedy but I do eagerly await your confirmation of the well-being of yourself, family, and colleagues.

Looking forward to hearing from you,
Yogesh

** This email is about our volunteering singing around NYC - see past blog entry**

Subject: Review of Saturday’s Singing NYU Students

Hi Victor & Jennifer,

First of all, many thanks go to you and the Stern School for providing
us with water and helping out with some supplies (I have a couple
receipts here). Without your help, our experience would not have been
the success that I believe it was. Dean Choi was even so kind as to
bring down a bag of cookies for us to munch on as we made some posters.

At around 10am, Nikki Singh and I met. We had bought some poster paper
and surgical masks (in case we needed them). When NYU students and
alumni (Stern representing half of them) started to show up at around
10.30, we set up on a couple plastic table cloths on the ground of Gould
Plaza and used the extra paint from orientation to make some posters. It
felt like orientation all over again with the creativity that was going
around our group of about 20 people. The posters now reside in
Washington Square Park, at the memorial in front of the Arch.

We proceeded to buy some American flag bandanas to show our patriotism
and unity. Stern alum Joe Fiorello even showed up with his rather large
American flag and proudly waved this symbol of our great nation high as
we moved around from place to place.

We travelled to Union Square Park, St. Vincent’s Hospital, all along the
West Side Highway down to Canal St., Duarte Square and back to
Washington Square Park. We handed out our extra water bottles to
policemen, firemen and rescue workers along the way. We sang everywhere
and countless times. Reporters and newscasters pointed their cameras and
microphones in our faces as we sang, often interviewing us after we’d
finish. Our songs included “My Country Tis of Thee,” “America the
Beautiful”, “Amazing Grace” and, of course, the “Star Spangled Banner”.

Each and every time we sang, people were moved. Many sang along with us
and cried. Some of us cried along with them.

It was an amazing experience, being helpful for us who sang and
hopefully for those who heard and saw us. We did this to thank the many
men and women who are continually working to rescue possible survivors,
working to give hope to the thousands of people with loved ones and
friends missing. It was good for us because it allowed us to do
something other than sit and watch the newscasts of this terrible
tragedy. We were able to contribute something, even if only a small
amount.

So I thank you for making this possible on behalf of my fellow singers
and of those that we may have moved today.

Sincerely,
Yon-Loon Chen

**The following is another email from the Pres of NYU**

Subject: A personal message from President L. Jay Oliva
To: Members of the University Community
From: L. Jay Oliva
Date: September 17, 2001
Subject: A personal message from President L. Jay Oliva

It will be some time before this nation gets back to “business as usual,” but as we in this
community begin our efforts, I want to write you all directly. There are University
communications on a regular basis to bring us all up to speed on events as they unfold. They
will continue.

This is not one of them.
This is personal.

First, my forty years here have been full of so many wondrously sunny days and some
agonizingly unpleasant days of storm; none of those days prepared me for this. I am full of
outrage at the incredible outburst of irrationality that represents the polar opposite of our lives in
the University Community. And so are you.

Second, I am full of the deepest sorrow and full of tears beyond words for those who are living
with the worst sense of loss that humans can endure. And so are you.

Third, I am enormously proud of you, as you go about volunteering your service and your
support and your blood to those heroes who are working to rescue our friends and neighbors.
And I am immensely proud of those committing themselves so totally on our behalf. And so are
you.

Fourth, it is enormously important for us to heed Mayor Giuliani’s guidance, and to restore our
lives, to pursue quickly and effectively the normal course of things. As the Mayor emphasized,
the best response to those who aspire to intimidate us is to refuse to be intimidated. The answer
to the question - what can I do? - is clear: come back to life, love our family and friends,
commit to build ourselves, our city and our nation better than it was; go on to pursue our dreams.

Lastly, I feel deep gratitude to the folks around this nation and the world who are sharing their
love and care with us. Our friends in the leadership of universities around the world are with us.
The messages from our students’ families around this nation are immensely supportive.

Thank you for being a quite extraordinary community in the face of this incredible challenge.
Continue to love and look after one another, comfort and support our neighbors, and get on with
life: this is the best response.

Subject: World Trade Center, Update #2

Dear Stern Alumnus/Alumna,

We have received literally thousands of e-mails, phone calls and other messages from around the world. We are deeply appreciative of the outpouring of care, concern and support for the Stern community.

We have set up message boards for our students and alumni to check in. We want to hear from you and encourage you to visit our home page (http://www.stern.nyu.edu) or the special site we have set up for this purpose (http://www.stern.nyu.edu/wtc).

As most of you know, we are located at Washington Square Park in Greenwich Village, approximately two miles directly north of the World Trade Center complex. News of the attack reached us within minutes and by noon Tuesday we, and the rest of New York University, were deeply involved in efforts to account for members of our community. Our students and faculty rose to this extraordinary occasion and quickly became involved in a variety of activities which ranged from providing emergency housing for the displaced to initiating telephone calls to account for current students to direct involvement in rescue efforts. On Friday, we held a memorial service that drew all segments of the Stern community together and filled Schimmel auditorium beyond its capacity. Classes resumed their normal schedule on Monday, September 17.

As we continue to monitor the aftermath of this event, we will share what we have learned. The following points may be of interest to you:

We have accounted for all current undergraduate, full-time MBA, and Executive MBA students and they are all safe. Approximately 98.6% of the current Langone part-time students have been accounted for and they, too, are safe. We continue efforts to reach the remaining 28 students, and sadly report that two have been officially listed as missing.
None of Stern’s academic or residential facilities were damaged in the attack. Those students, faculty and staff who resided in lower Manhattan and were displaced have all found alternative living arrangements.
Approximately 800 Stern alumni had business addresses in the World Trade Center or vicinity, and we are hopeful of receiving word from them through our website message board or hearing from them directly.

The energy, commitment and resolve demonstrated by our students, faculty and staff during this period of crisis and its aftermath have been nothing short of heroic. Whatever its other effects, at Stern as in the nation at large, this crisis has brought us together as never before.

In sum, we are still here, we are pursuing our mission of creating and distributing knowledge, and we are confident about the future. We are deeply appreciative of the messages of concern so many of you have sent and regret any that we may have been unable to acknowledge individually.

George Daly
Dean

**Even my company pushed in to help**

Disaster Relief Supplies Shipped to New York

Johnson & Johnson Responds To Emergency Needs

In response to the terrible events that occurred yesterday in New York City and the Washington, D.C., area, Johnson & Johnson is working with local organizations to support emergency relief efforts. Thus far, the following actions have been taken:

The Company donated a disaster relief module containing wound care and personal care products. The module, delivered by helicopter through the AmeriCares organization, arrived at St. Vincent’s hospital at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday. St. Vincent’s is the closest health care facility to the NYC disaster area.

The Company has offered assistance to our charitable partners in NYC, including Helen Keller World Wide, ORBIS, Catholic Medical Mission Board and UNICEF. Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) University Hospital and Saint Peter’s Hospital in New Brunswick have also been contacted and offered assistance. RWJ University Hospital is a Level One Trauma Center and may be called upon for help. Johnson & Johnson is prepared to respond to requests from these and other local hospitals and charities.

Additionally, a mental health organization will be identified and a grant for the support of community-based mental health programs addressing the tragedy will be provided.

What You Can Do To Help

Johnson & Johnson Corporate Contributions has established a special partnership with the American Red Cross that will facilitate and supplement U.S. employee disaster relief contributions. Effective immediately, Johnson & Johnson will match dollar for dollar (1:1) the personal donations of U.S. employees to the American Red Cross when those donations are earmarked for this cause.

To qualify, the donation must be sent to the American Red Cross at the following address:

American Red Cross

American Disaster Relief Effort

P.O. Box 37243

Washington, DC 20013-7243

The American Red Cross will track these gifts and Johnson & Johnson will make an equivalent donation. This program is subject to the following:
Only personal donations by U.S. Johnson & Johnson employees qualify
Payee line should read “American Red Cross-American Disaster Relief”
Memo line should read “Johnson & Johnson Employee Campaign”
A maximum of $1000 per employee will qualify

Donations must be received by December 31, 2001.