UH will feature a piece of the World Trade Center in a memorial in the new UC. | Courtesy of UH.edu
The debris from the World Trade Center towers became symbols of the attack. All across America, these pieces remain in memorials. UH became one of two Texas locations to receive a piece, after the Student Government Association applied for it in 2009.
“Back in 2009, the president at the time was Kenneth Fomunung. A student came up to him from the Student Video Network and said, ‘Hey, I heard we can get a piece of the World Trade Center. I heard that they’re giving them out to different organizations and things of that nature. You should look in to it,’” said SGA President Cedric Bandoh.
“Long story short, they applied for a piece in the New Jersey Port Authority, and after going through a series of paperwork and other things, they got the assistance of the then-vice president of Student Affairs, Dr. Elwyn Lee. And we were eventually approved for a piece of the World Trade Center, which was very, very exciting news.”
The artifact, a large piece of steel that was broken off during the September 11 attacks, will be raised and lighted and turned into a memorial at the New UC.
“The Student Government Association really led the effort. They wanted to have it as a site of history, of the country, and also they wanted it to take place adjacent to a large student traffic area so that it’s just a memorial of sorts that represents the history of our country,” said Associate Vice President for Student Affairs Keith Kowalka.
Bandoh hopes the artifact will become an iconic stop for anyone visiting Houston.
“The University is the heart of Houston, and it really is right in the center, so (UH) is one of the better places, in my opinion, to have such a special artifact … right smack dab in the middle of Houston,” Bandoh said.
The artifact is set to be unveiled along with Phase One of the New UC in January.
Maybe it’s just me… but this seems like an inappropriate place to put it and a morbid thing to do in the first place.
I am not sure how it is inappropriate or morbid. That was our country, our people, our future attacked. We should always REMEMBER that day and what was taken away from us as the greatest nation. The terrorists killed some of the great people of our nation and still continue. Like it or not, they will always try to destroy what is good and I think it is an honor that UH will be the place to hold one of the pieces for the future of America to see.
http://f.kulfoto.com/pic/0001/0026/60bc725290.jpg
Those who cannot remember the past, are condemned to repeat it. I liked the idea.
I wonder how the Muslim Population on campus feels about this, wait, I don’t care. Kudos to UH for this high honor.
I’m sure they don’t mind, seeing as they’re American and all. Dumbass
what an idiot you are I seriously hope you don’t go to UH because you dont stand up for what it means to be a COUGAR! you have no COOG PRIDE what-so-ever
I’m Muslim, and like others have said I don’t mind at all. Infact there are First Responders that were involved with rescue operations who were Muslims. (Notice I said First Responders before Muslims. Because First Responders don’t care about religion in a crisis, it is save anyone, EVERYONE)
Headline should read, “World Trade Center beam makes UH it’s Home”. Who is responsible for editing the headlines? Come on, UH.
true, at least they didn’t hand out cups with typos on it like Notre Dame did lol
…cups with typos on THEM. Lets remember our verb-noun agreement, shall we, wordsmith?
you are very correct and problem solved (happy?) but, hey, I’m not physically handing my sentence out to anyone.
Its* autocorrect
yeahhh….UH is not really the “Center” of Houston. It is an honor though not doubting that.