The Collegian

Issue date: 9/12/06 Section: News

Media Credit: Annie Douglass The SMC turned black on Sunday in memory of the events of September 11, representatives from various clubs on campus made the hike to the sign in hopes to create a lasting visual reminder of five years ago. Groups participating included the SMC Democrats, the Campaign to End the Death Penalty, Gay Straight Alliance, Amnesty International, and the SMC Progressives. The clubs comprise a group known as the dreamers.

Driving onto campus this week, people of the Saint Mary's community may be taken aback by the black letters of the SMC on the hill.

"I think people may think, 'Why? Why is the SMC painted black?'" said Devin O'Leary '07, president of Campaign to End the Death Penalty (CEDP).

Five years ago, September 11 became a day that would live in infamy. Since then, a number of groups on campus have held a memoriam for those who perished in the attacks.

A collaboration of the SMC Democrats, Gay Straight Alliance (GSA), SMC Progressives, Amnesty International, and CEDP decided to paint the SMC black in honor of September 11. The plans for this year's September 11 memorial started at the beginning of the school year. The groups wanted to "pay homage and respect to those who died that day and to open people's eyes not just as a nation, but as a people of the world," said Garcia.

"We're not making a political stance. We're all in some way affected by 9/11. It's an inclusive statement," said O'Leary. "It was a dark day then, it's a dark day now."

Nathan Garcia '08, president of the SMC Democrats, wanted all to take part in the memorial. "We [wanted] to make it visible," said Garcia. The reason for the color black O'Leary and Garcia, pointed out was to emphasize how dark a day it was.

Ten people helped paint the SMC on Sunday, including a member of the Saint Mary's College Republicans (SMC Republicans).

Continued...

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