William A. Staples, university president, recounted a special day of remembrance and led the crowd in a moment of silence to honor the many lives lost in the tragedy.

A vocal trio including Counselor Betty Brown, Kandi Bartling and Amanda Kearney performed an arrangement of America the Beautiful accompanied by the arranger of the piece, Glennie Scott.

The flags in front of the Bayou Building were flown at half-staff to honor the national observation as requested by President George W. Bush.

At the conclusion of the ceremony the crowd moved to the live oak tree, known as The Freedom Tree, planted near the front entrance of the Bayou Building last year during the memorial service titled, A Month Remembered- A memorial service of tribute and renewal, in memory of the victims of September 11, 2001.

A wreath was placed at the base of The Freedom Tree's bronze marker that reads, "THE FREEDOM TREE, In memory of those who died, September 11, 2001, Dedicated by, Students, Faculty, Staff and Administration of the University of Houston-Clear Lake, October 9, 2001." Guests also placed single red and white carnations around the tree.

Two memory books were placed in Atria I and II of the Bayou Building, in which students recorded their thoughts and recollections of the past year. Many students also picked up pins made of red, white and blue ribbon, and wore them around the campus.

The Multicultural and International Student Services displayed a poster in the Bayou Building of a world map with a list of the 85 countries, other than the United States, affected by the tragedy.

"It is important to acknowledge that, not only Americans, but the entire world, has experienced a year of mourning and loss," said Linda Bullock, director of Multicultural and International Student Services.

"We are all fellow humans and must realize that Sept. 11 was an international tragedy. In my profession I deal with students of all nationalities, so I recognize their loss." The students in the Accounting Association were also remembered Sept.11 by sponsoring a blood drive Sept. 9-10.

Lack of staff leads to financial aid frustration for students
by William Shexnayder
UHCLIDIAN STAFF
A staff shortage and turnover of employees in the Financial Aid and Veterans Affairs Office is the reason student financial aid application files are taking longer than usual to process. Some students, who filed after the May 1 priority deadline or after the Aug. 1 extended deadline, have not been awarded aid.
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