Rita Hamad ’03, representing the Society of Arab Students, also spoke of the double burden that Arab students have had to bear in grieving with the rest of the nation about the attacks because they have also had to deal with others’ suspicion.
Heightened awareness in the wake of the attacks caused several students to think more about routine security precautions.
Identification cards were checked before students gained entrance to the event and three Harvard University Police Department officers patrolled the auditorium.
“I’ve noticed more security everywhere on campus,” said Wendy Caceres ’03. “Whenever I hear a siren, my heart just stops,” she said. “I think, ‘Is something going to happen?’”
Several audience members said they felt open dialogue was important but questioned the real impact of the panel.
“Unfortunately, I thought they were preaching to the converted,” D. Miishe Addy ’03 said. “A lot of the people who need to be spoken to weren’t here.”
—Staff writer Juliet J. Chung can be reached at jchung@fas.harvard.edu.