Almost immediately after the two planes crashed into the World Trade Center towers on Tuesday, student organizations at Northern Kentucky University responded immediately by consoling the shell-shocked student body.

Once Pi Kappa Alpha fundraising chairmen Jim Miskanin learned that his girlfriend who attends New York University was okay, he approached Student Government Association to set up a relief fund for volunteers and workers involved in the rescue effort in New York City.

SGA is trying to reach out to the students and do what they can, SGA President Katie Herschede said.

“Each of us feels affected,” Herschede said. “We are doing whatever we can do to let the students grieve in whatever different ways they need to.”

SGA also is bringing Hoxworth Blood Center on Campus on Thursday. The blood drive will last from 8:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Counseling and spiritual support will be provided by the Baptist Student Union, said BSU campus minister Bill Ellis. Within two hours after the suicide bombing, Ellis said over a thousand people visited the chapel to pray. Ellis said the BSU will work with the university to set up counseling for students. More importantly, Ellis said the BSU will give students a way to cope with the tragedy.

“Our initial reaction was what can we do and we can’t do anything,” Ellis said. “A place like this serves a focal point for people to pray for those who lost their lives.”

BSU hoped to see a counseling session at Kentucky Hall in Norse Commons.

Two organizations, the office of International Student Affairs and Students Together Against Racism, are working to prevent the damage the terrorist actions could cause to ethnic groups, particularly Middle Eastern ones. S.T.A.R. Co-President D.J. Carter said it is a mistake to jump to conclusions and the terrorists could be of any ethnicity.

“It is a really weird time and no one is innocent,” Carter said.

S.T.A.R hopes to hold forums and dialogues at NKU in the near future to ease tensions, said Carter.

An e-mail was sent out to international students on campus by ISU Director Viki Kimball to prepare the students for antagonism they may receive by other people. Kimball said the Oklahoma bombing posed a similar situation, because of many people assumed it was done by Middle Eastern people. She said the ISU hopes to soften this potentially volatile situation.

“We want to make sure people are aware that anyone could have done this,” Kimball said. “This is a tragedy that everyone will get through together.”

Students who want to help out in any way should e-mail Miskanin at J_Misk@hotmail.com.