The new "Peace Pole" on McNichols Campus, dedicated Sept. 11, 2006 as one of the "9/11: Five Years and Beyond" events

September 11, 2001 – a horrific date that no one will ever forget. Faculty and students at University of Detroit Mercy have sought to immortalize it in a special way. "9/11: Five Years & Beyond" is a semester-long series of commemorative and contemplative events on the past, present and future, inspired by the tragedy of that day.

"Within a week of 9/11/01, several faculty had organized a forum where the University community could come together to grapple with the terror and grief they were experiencing," says David Koukal, associate professor of Philosophy, and one of the many event coordinators.  "Five years later, many faculty and staff thought it would be a good idea to have a similar kind of program, though more ambitious, considering the cascade of complex events which followed Sept. 11."

According to Koukal, many organizations helped make this event possible, "First, we have several on-campus sponsors and partners from the local community," Koukal says. "A general committee of faculty and staff helped to decide the actual shape and content of the program, working with suggestions solicited from neighborhood and University resources."

The program calendar is diverse, including theatrical and poetry readings, lectures, and an art installation. A special film series and several discussion panels round out the series. "The theme is both commemorative and contemplative," Koukal says. "We seek to commemorate loss and attempt to understand the 'whys' of these losses—lives, peace, etc.—but also losses in civil liberties and so on.  All of the events that issued from the 9/11 attacks are obviously affecting our present, and will affect our future. "

For dates of remaining events in the series, see the 9/11: Five Years & Beyond web page.