By Crystal Luong
Editor in Chief
Unexpected attacks recently in London reinforced the realities of terrorism, but life as usual has promptly resumed for the city’s residents, including members of Pepperdine’s London Program.
“As a Londoner, I was appalled and outraged by the events,” Thomasina Atkin, Seaver program assistant, wrote in an e-mail to the Graphic. “Despite the terrible loss of life and horrific injuries that were suffered, London and its residents seem determined to carry on as normal. I absolutely refuse to let these evil people win.”
Seaver and School of Law students were scattered throughout London at their various internship locations and residences at the time of Thursday’s double-decker blast and three subway bombings that killed at least 49 people and wounded about 700. University officials were able to confirm the safety of faculty, staff and students within an hour after the attacks, according to Dr. Carolyn Vos Strache, director of London Programs. The programs currently have 17 undergraduate and 34 law school students studying in the city. No students were near the bombing sites or in immediate danger at any time.
The first news reports streaming in online attributed the underground disruptions to power surges, said Professor Colleen Graffy, the program’s law school academic director, who was in the process of beginning a class on international law and the use of force.
“We were getting continuous live updates as the news changed to rumors of an explosion, to confirmed explosion and finally, the news that a double-decker bus had blown up,” Graffy said. “With that, we abandoned class to go to the student center and watch the live coverage.”
As the news unfolded, fears of additional attacks called for extra precautions. A stray suitcase, found later Thursday morning at a house one block from the Pepperdine house, prompted authorities to lock down the street, according to Vos Strache. A bomb squad detonated the suitcase about mid-day and determined its contents were not dangerous.
For some in London, the worst terrorist attack on the city since World War II triggered images and emotions reminiscent of Sept. 11, nearly four years ago. “The students and faculty in the London house have acknowledged how much this felt like the 9/11 days,” Vos Strache said. “They have empathy for the British people. They are also impressed with the resolve of the people and their strong will to get back to normal as soon as possible.”
Pepperdine’s Londoners were confined to the university’s house until it was safe to go to dinner as a group Thursday evening. Following emergency procedures for International Programs, all student travel was suspended for 24 hours and allowed to resume Friday. Some students, who had scheduled flights for Thursday, expressed frustration at setbacks.
“Everyone was highly frustrated because taxis were still going and flights were still on schedule,” wrote Seaver student Paula Pendley via e-mail. “London was extremely quick about picking up the pieces from the bombings and getting the city back to order.”
Classes at the Pepperdine house continued as scheduled Thursday, and there appears to be little sign that the attacks will be allowed to affect any daily ongoing. “Would Malibu cancel class because of the LA Freeway shooter?” Graffy said.
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07-11-2005
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