Though their daily lives have not changed, many Penn State students think Sept. 11 impacted their lives and will continue to affect them.

Michael O'Sullivan (senior-business management) said he believes the daily life of students has not been affected because of their location. State College is a small and safe-feeling place, O'Sullivan said.

O'Sullivan does believe that his life has changed as a whole. The differences between cultures and extremists in other cultures have become more apparent, he said.

"Our American lives have changed forever. We'll never return to what we're used to," O'Sullivan said.

Jesse Levy (junior-criminal justice) said his daily life has not been impacted by the attacks. He was directly affected by the attacks, however, because he is from New York and knew people who were inside the World Trade Center when it collapsed, he said. As a result of this, his overall feelings have changed, Levy said.

Dave Mosser (senior-biology) agreed that his daily life has not changed at all. Mosser said his attitude towards America has changed and he has become more patriotic as a result of Sept. 11, as have many other Americans.

Mosser said he doesn't really follow the war because he believes that it is basically over.

"When I get to read the paper, I follow it, but I don't get to every day," Mosser said.

Eva Samras (senior-agricultural science) does feel that her daily life, and her life as a whole, has been changed by the events of Sept. 11. Her actions have not changed, but she does spend time thinking about what's happening because news of the war in Afghanistan and other results of the Sept. 11 attacks are everywhere, Samras said.

"I'm constantly hearing about it. It's in my face; I can't not hear about it," Samras added.

Samras also believes life will continue to be affected by the event of Sept. 11. The attacks have changed many aspects of life, such as the economy, Samras said.

"One event has changed so many things," Samras said.

The number of students who have been affected by Sept. 11 is underestimated, said Frank Clemente, professor of sociology. Many students knew people who were killed or injured in the attacks or who were involved in relief efforts, he said.

"Many students are walking around confused, trying to figure out what this means in their lives," Clemente added.

Other students who weren't as directly connected to the attacks are kept aware of the events because of the constant media coverage, he said. Because of this, students are more willing to discuss political happenings that will affect their futures, Clemente said.

"Students are now looking outward instead of inward," he added.