Sept. 14, 2001

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - Southeast and Southwest Missouri State Universities will dedicate Saturday's football game in Cape Girardeau to those who are suffering and who have lost their lives as a result of the national tragedies this week at the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and in Pennsylvania.

"Following the advice of President Bush that our country should continue to function, we decided it is appropriate to go ahead with this game," said Kenneth W. Dobbins, president of Southeast Missouri State University. Southeast is scheduled to take on the Southwest Missouri State University Bears at 6 p.m. in the non-conference game at Houck Stadium.

Greek student organizations at Southeast will be accepting donations for disaster relief at all of the gates into Houck Stadium. Funds collected will be donated to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army and the New York Firefighters Relief Fund.

In addition, a special ceremony will provide an opportunity for those in attendance to pay respect to the victims of these violent attacks and those who mourn their losses. Special selections will be performed by the Golden Eagles Marching Band, and Lori Shaffer, vocal music instructor with the Southeast music faculty, will lead the audience in singing the National Anthem and "God Bless America."

Area military and reserve units, law enforcement officers, and firefighters have been invited to attend the game, and those in uniform will be admitted with their families at no cost. Those who attend will be asked to participate in the pre-game ceremony on the field.

"It is fitting that we take this opportunity publicly to honor the memory of those whose lives were so needlessly taken in Tuesday's acts of violence, to think about those who were injured and those who are grieving, and to pay tribute to those who are working around the clock to rescue those who may still survive in the ruins," Dobbins said.

"The joy in tomorrow's game is obviously diminished by the horrible events of the past week," said Dr. John H. Keiser, President of Southwest Missouri State University. "But as President Bush stated on Wednesday, 'the nation mourns, but our government will go on, and the country will function.' We are a strong nation that values our freedom. In that vein, we will continue on. This is a way for us to join the rest of the nation in demonstrating that the American spirit has not been crushed."

The nation is participating today in the National Day of Prayer and Remembrance for the victims of the attacks, but Saturday, Dobbins said, is when we must begin the difficult job of restoring confidence and returning to normal.

In that same spirit, Dobbins said, Southeast is proceeding with the dedication Saturday morning of the new Otto and Della Seabaugh Polytechnic Building on the University campus. Both U. S. Senator Christopher S. "Kit" Bond and 8th District Congresswoman Jo Ann Emerson, who are scheduled to speak at that ceremony, requested that the University proceed with the event as a means of helping restore a sense of normality throughout the nation. Dobbins said that getting on with the University's business of educating young people demonstrates faith in the future of America.

The White House conveyed to the NCAA that it is encouraging a return to normality across the country. Southeast hopes Saturday's events in Cape Girardeau will show the resiliency of the American spirit, Dobbins said.