As the terror attacks of Sept. 11 unfolded last year, attending class may have seemed like an afterthought for many students.

However, on the year anniversary teachers said most students came to class and found ways to make their feelings educational.

Jeri Weasmer, an English professor who prepares future teachers, did not have class Wednesday, but she is placing the tragedy at the top of her agenda today.

She said she wants students to talk about their feelings, but she hopes to incorporate the topic in to an educational manner.

“I’m anticipating that (today) we’ll talk about students’ perspective about how they will deal with these kinds of situations when they go on to teach their own students,” Weasmer said. “I’m always interested in how they would teach something.”

She said she hopes to find a medium where the events and tragedy are still real to students, while not bombarding them or overdoing the topic in discussion.

Daundrudi Suksand, an English professor, said attendance in her class was good, though she would have understood if people took the day off for personal reasons.

“We talked about how to make the world a better place and how to make it safer,” Suksand said. “Sometimes it was difficult for them to talk because its such a sad day.”

Jeremy Hanson, a music instructor, said he preferred to use classtime as an escape for his students.

“I would prefer to keep a sense of normalcy for people and allow students some time off from all the media exposure,” Hanson said.

Tucker Gordan, a botany professor, said he did not see a direct connection between botany and the attacks of Sept. 11, so he did not take class time to discuss the matter.

However, he said he understood if students took advantage of the ceremonies on campus and in the community held to commemorate the tragedy.

Debra Reid, a history professor, said she also did not take attendance in her class today in case students wanted to take personal time. However, she appreciated the high attendance numbers today.

She said no one brought up the anniversary and in class the mood was business as usual.

“People are functioning in the spirit of the day,” Reid said. “It’s a day of reflection and contemplation.”