By Joo Eun Kim

Guest Writer

After the terrorist attack on Sept. 11, everyone was in state of shock. People's response to the attack varied; some sought retaliation, while others sought peace and justice. A nation wide campaign on university campuses to promote peace and justice caught the attention of Peter Harkema and Benjamin Hoff, two seniors at Calvin, who then decided to organize a vigil for peace on Calvin's campus. ``We decided together that it was important for Calvin to participate in this,'' said Harkema.

The vigil for peace was scheduled on Thursday, Sept. 20 on nearly 100 campuses across the country. Calvin was about to join universities like Harvard, MIT, Georgetown and others to hold a vigil, when ironically, Calvin campus was evacuated on the same night of the vigil due to a threatening phone call. Thus, the vigil for peace was cancelled.

``The biggest hardship was overcoming discouragement. It was an ironic twist to have such an event cancelled because of a bomb threat,'' said Hoff, one of the organizers of the event.

But the desire for peace did not die on Calvin campus. As Chaplain Cooper stated, ``God's work done in God's way will never lack God's blessing.'' On Thursday, Sept. 27, one week after it was originally planned, the vigil for peace took place at 8:30 p.m. on the Commons Lawn. That evening, about 100 students, faculty, staff and family members of Calvin gathered in a circle, holding candles. Harkema and Hoff, the organizers of the event, said they were ``pleased with the turnout.''

The event began with the sharing of quotes related to peace, justice, solidarity and equality. The speakers included Professor Simona Goi and Professor Bert de Vries. De Vries commented, ``It was very meaningful.'' He shared some quotes on the theme of ``the light of the world.'' Then he read a selection from Wendell Berry's poetry book, ``A Timbered Choir,'' which read, ``You do not have to walk in darkness. If you will have the courage for love, you may walk in the light. It will be the light of those who have suffered for peace. It will be your light.'' Other readings at the event included selections from Thoreau, Solshenitsyn and E.E. Cummings. The crowd had a moment of silence after the readings, followed by a guitar interlude. Hoff and Harkema opened and closed with readings of Muslim prayers for peace.

The vigil for peace received much support from individuals at Calvin. ``The feel from the people around us was very positive, thoughtful and supportive,'' said Harkema.

Chaplain Dale Cooper, one of the supporters of the event, stressed its importance. ``We all needed the time to listen to God and to speak to Him,'' he said. ``We needed a venue to come together and to be together.''