This Sunday marks the 10th anniversary of 9/11 and with it brings a wide range of emotions for all of us. When the annual fall concert Juice Jam was scheduled for its normal weekend, it happened to coincide with this 10th anniversary. University Union immediately began working with Hendricks Chapel, Student Association and the Division of Student Affairs to ensure that the entire day is given the reverence that it deserves.  

What came out of these discussions is a premiere collaboration between all parties involved, one that embraces the traditions that have come out of that fateful day. Inspired by President Barack Obama’s Interfaith and Community Service Challenge to colleges and universities, Juice Jam has been redesigned into a benefit concert and will be accepting food donations.  

In 2002, in the aftermath of the events of 9/11, family members of victims began to gather to think about constructive ways they could honor the memory and legacy of their loved ones who were lost. They wanted to recapture the spirit of unity and compassion that had swept the nation and world following the attacks. They began small by volunteering in soup kitchens, writing letters to soldiers and cleaning up neighborhood lots. Over the years, their vision has grown with an estimated million U.S. citizens expected to take part in community service projects this Sunday.  

In 2009, President Obama and Congress recognized the work these families had done and declared Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. In doing so, they issued a challenge to all citizens to take part in service projects as a way to honor those lost and those who rose to serve others in the midst of a great tragedy.    

So here in Syracuse, the Better Together campaign, in partnership with University Union, is how we are organizing students to participate in this day of service. Better Together and UU have decided that the food collected will be donated to the Interreligious Food Consortium of Central New York, and revenues from the concert will be donated to the UN World Food Programme.  

These charities were picked in the spirit of service that has come to surround Sept. 11. For the past five years, hunger has been on the rise here in the city of Syracuse and local food pantries, such as the Interreligious Food Consortium, have seen an 82 percent increase in usage from 2006-09. Additionally, the Horn of Africa is in the midst of the worst famine in decades with U.N. estimates of more than 13 million people in five countries experiencing extreme hunger. The U.N. World Food Programme works to help alleviate hunger in these regions.  

We hope that you will be able to join us on Sunday at all the events happening during the day.  Bring some canned goods to Schine or Sadler Dining Hall on Thursday and Shaw Dining Hall on Friday. The Service of Remembrance and Hope will take place at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Hendricks Chapel, with buses to the Juice Jam Benefit Concert available directly after.

Neal Casey

Student Association President

Rob Dekker

University Union President

Rachel Tjornehoj    

Interfaith Student Council President

Published on September 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm