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Eastern to mark 25th anniversary of 9/11 with 2 days of remembrance

Faculty roundtable, remembrance ceremony, reading of names

Willimantic, CT (09/04/2026) — Eastern Connecticut State University will mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks with two days of events Sept. 10-11, bringing together students, faculty, staff, and members of the surrounding community for remembrance, reflection, and dialogue.

The events will include a faculty roundtable examining the lasting impact of 9/11, a remembrance ceremony (keynote speaker TBA), and a reading of the names of those who lost their lives in the attacks.

Faculty Roundtable: "25 Years After 9/11: How Much Has the World Changed?"

  • Thursday, Sept. 10, at 12:30 p.m.
  • Student Center Theatre

Eastern faculty members will explore how the events of Sept. 11 reshaped the world and continue to influence global affairs, mental health, international relations, and the global economy.

Panelists will include Caitlin Carenen, professor of history; Phyllis Lee, associate professor of psychological science; Martin Mendoza-Botelho, professor of political science; and Emiliano Villanueva, professor of business administration.

Remembrance Ceremony

  • Friday, Sept. 11, at 10 a.m.
  • Fine Arts Instructional Center (FAIC) Amphitheater

Eastern will host a remembrance ceremony to honor the lives lost on Sept. 11 and recognize the first responders who answered the call that day.

Thousands of flags will line the hillside amphitheater (between FAIC and Student Center), with each flag representing a life lost in the attacks.

Throughout the morning, the University's clock tower bell will toll at 8:46, 9:03, 9:37 and 10:03 a.m., marking the times of the four attacks. Members of the campus community are invited to pause wherever they are as the bell sounds.

The 10:03 a.m. chimes will mark a moment of silence, followed by the remembrance ceremony. Additional details, including the featured speaker, will be announced closer to the event.

Reading of the Names

  • Friday, Sept. 11, immediately following the remembrance ceremony
  • Fine Arts Instructional Center Amphitheater

Following the ceremony, members of the Eastern and surrounding communities will read aloud the names of every person who lost their life in the Sept. 11 attacks. The reading will continue throughout the morning, and community members are welcome to visit the amphitheater at any time for a moment of quiet reflection.

A community art project will also take place in the amphitheater throughout the morning. Members of the campus and surrounding community are invited to contribute.

Eastern welcomes students, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to participate in these events as the University commemorates the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001, and honors those whose lives were lost.

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Eastern Connecticut State University is the state of Connecticut's public liberal arts university, serving upwards of 4,000 students annually on its Willimantic campus. A residential campus offering 41 majors and 68 minors, Eastern offers students a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in a variety of applied learning opportunities. Ranked among the top 25 public institutions in the North by U.S. News & World Report in its 2025-26 Best Colleges ratings, Eastern has also been awarded 'Green Campus' status by the Princeton Review 15 years in a row. For more information, visit www.easternct.edu.

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