DePaul's Paula Dempsey and Lawrence Hamer talk about 
their experiences on 9/11. (Video by Rima Thompson)  

Paula Dempsey, coordinator of reference services

Posted: Tuesday, Aug. 30, 2011

Paula Dempsey heard the news of what happened at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon from a friend. She said she could not fathom the possibility of such an attack happening to the United States.

“When I finally accepted that the attacks were real, my first thought was that we were near the [Willis] Tower,” said Dempsey, who was at the Loop Campus, “and then my attention turned to this young man who was of Middle Eastern descent. He was noticeably nervous about leaving the campus and making it home safely.”

Vice President of Student Affairs James Doyle reported one incident of people verbally assaulting a Muslim student near campus on 9/11, according to a Sept. 2001 DePaulia article. Security and escort services were available for all students, he added. -- Rima Thompson

Next story: David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer

Return to: DePaul community on 9/11 | "10 Remember 9/11" | The Red Line Project