14 years ago, Americans vowed to never forget September 11, 2001. Though many have stayed true to that promise and have not forgotten the devastating result of 9/11, it seems that Urban has. The New York Times declared 9/11 to be the “worst and most audacious terror attack in American history.” However, as a whole community, Urban does nothing to formally recognize the tragic day, nor its impact on the rest of the country.

9/11 has affected the way we travel, the tensions in the Middle East, it has impacted our relationships with countries around the world and much more. Even though no Urban student today was above the age of 4 during the attack, the fact that Urban pays no tribute to the day is perplexing considering its impacts on our lives. Since 9/11, the United States has spent more than $7.6 trillion on defense and homeland security, and Islamophobia has immensely increased since the attacks. Before 2001, the FBI recorded only  28 hate crimes against Muslims. However today, hate crimes against Muslims are 5 times more common. 9/11 has brought about a new era of fear, policy and   Islamophobia, so why doesn’t Urban recognize this event?

Across the United States, thousands of high schools recognize 9/11. This year, Coronado High School in Southern California, paused classes and at 9:40 am and students and staff placed over 3,000 American flags in the lawn. The overall message was to never forget how many lives were changed because of the attacks. Lumberton High School in Texas had their cheerleaders perform a dance in honor of the tragic day, while San Francisco’s University High School invited students to share thoughts and stories while they talked about the attacks in small groups.

While it may seem unrealistic for us to place thousands of flags in the garden, Urban can do a better job of remembering 9/11. Perhaps our teachers could pause class at 9:40 and have a moment of silence for the victims, or we could have a special ASM in remembrance of the day. Maybe Urban could offer a space during lunch where students and faculty have the opportunity to learn more about the attacks and how it has affected us.

Remembering those who were lost on 9/11 does not have to be complicated. There are many simple ways that we could accomplish this task. Those who we lost deserve something more than Urban is currently giving them.