By Kristen Oliveri

White candles filled Krentzman Quandrangle Thursday as the Student Government Association (SGA) hosted a vigil to honor the second anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks. Student group leaders sat on stage as Bryan McCants played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes. SGA President Michael Romano welcomed the students and thanked them for their presence on such an important occasion. Interim Vice President for Student Affairs Ed Klotzbier spoke of his own personal connection to September 11, having grown up outside New York City. He also recounted his own experience at Northeastern on the day of the attacks, calling for a moment of silence to remember Candace Lee Williams, 20, a Northeastern student who died. “Originally, when this happened, we were getting calls. We were very concerned about our students in the tri-state area,” Klotzbier said. “Then we heard about the student. It was even more close to home when we had a student right here from Northeastern that was involved in the tragedy.” The student group leaders then shared the reading of a poem entitled “Names” by Poet Laureate Billy Collins, that was written in honor of the attacks. “Names written in the air/And stitched into the cloth of the day/A name under a photograph taped to a mailbox/Monogram on a torn shirt/I see you spelled out on storefront windows/And on the bright unfurled awnings of this city,” the poem read. Freshman criminal justice major Katrina Krywonis looked on in silence as the poem was read. “I was compelled to attend the vigil to remember all those who sacrificed their own lives to help others. The Student Government Association did a wonderful job bringing all of us together as a community,” Krywonis said. Freshman philosophy major Caroline Tejeda also attended the vigil. “I’m from New York City and I know how much 9/11 affected my own neighborhood,” Tejeda said. “It almost makes me angry to think that I’m so far away from home now, but it’s comforting to know that SGA did its best to make the students here feel at home. I truly appreciate all that they’ve done.” While some students attended out of respect for their country, others may have reflected on a personal level, thinking of someone they might have lost. “I thought it was great to see so many people come together,” Klotzbier said.