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CNN Live Saturday

College Students Focus on National Pride

Aired September 29, 2001 - 14:54   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: For a lot of U.S. college students, crisp air and football games marked the middle of the fall semester. This year though, it's different. A lot of students are focusing more on family and national pride.

Let's check in with our Stephanie Oswald. She's reporting from the University of Colorado.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE OSWALD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): As a freshman in the reserve office of training corps, Nicole Chapman is continuing a family tradition. She was in grade school when her father was flying stealth fighter jets over Saudi Arabia.

DON CHAPMAN, FATHER: How are you doing?

NICOLE CHAPMAN: Good.

D. CHAPMAN: You doing OK?

N. CHAPMAN: Yes.

When he went to the Gulf War, I was 9. And I didn't know. My mom told me he was doing paperwork.

OSWALD: A decade later, Nicole was in the Army. And this time, there's no attempt to hide from reality.

D. CHAPMAN: Even more important is that I had a chance to hug her after she's seeing all this on the TV, even more. Give her a hug and say, "This still is the greatest country in the world."

OSWALD: Retired from the Air Force just three months ago, Don Chapman now flies for a commercial airline.

D. CHAPMAN: Now I know she's young and I know she's only a freshman in college, but I don't think she's find herself involved in the continuing what they're calling a continuing war against terrorism. And of course, I'm concerned.

OSWALD: Metine Afsall is deeply involved in the war against ignorance. A senior at CU and a member of the Muslim Students Association, some are attacking his beliefs. METINE AFSALL, STUDENT: Immediately I thought, they're going to pinpoint this on, you know, the religion of Islam or some Muslim terrorists, Arab terrorists in some Middle Eastern country. So I knew that was going to happen immediately. I mean, it's kind of the usual suspects, as they say on the news.

OSWALD: Metine's family flew in from Philadelphia for Parent's Weekend, the fourth time in four years, despite his mother's fear of flying.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I even told Metine on the telephone, I'm sorry, Metine, but I may not be able to make it this time, because I'm so scared of flying. And he said, "Hey, Mom, you're coming."

SAID AFSALL, FATHER: As a parent, it's our duty to work with them and try to talk about these fears and how to look at the positive side of these things.

OSWALD: Said Afsall has a strong message for his son.

S. AFSALL: Fear should not detain our life. Optimism and hope, you know, and the mercy and voicing of the world, that is what we need.

OSWALD: More than 1500 families faced the challenge of travel to reunite this weekend.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We need to remind ourselves and our children that these things do pass and that life cannot stop because of these things.

OSWALD: It's a weekend for respect and cheering in the football stadium and a time to check out the new dorm rooms.

(on camera): Parents weekend also includes a golf tournament, pep rallies, and campus wars. But this year, for many families, there's something else not on the usual schedule, a rally for peace.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I will tell you that the emotion that is most common in me right now is fear. I am very scared. We're all...

OSWALD: Families also rally for understanding. And in these times of uncertainty, cling to what they are sure of.

M. AFSALL: I am proud to be a Muslim in America. I mean, just to have the sense of freedom to practice my religion and the general openness and the community and the supportiveness of the American public.

N. CHAPMAN: I would die for this country. I love this country very much. And that is why I joined the ROTC.

OSWALD: A celebration of school spirit and for these families in their first meeting since September 11, also a celebration of human spirit.

Stephanie Oswald, CNN, Boulder, Colorado.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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