[nagdu] Sept. 11 survivor shares experience with OSU-N freshmen

[Ginger Kutsch]

Sept. 11 survivor shares experience with OSU-N freshmen

Aug. 20, 2013   |  

Written by Anna Jeffries

Advocate Reporter

http://www.newarkadvocate.com/article/20130820/NEWS01/308200036/Sept-11-surv
ivor-shares-experience-OSU-N-freshmen?nclick_check=1

 

Michael Hingson, an author and speaker who is blind, speaks to incoming
students at Ohio State University-Newark's convocation along with his guide
dog, Africa. Hingson was in the World Trade Center and survived because he
worked with his guide dog at the time, Roselle, to lead him to safety. /
Michael Lehmkuhle/The Advocate

NEWARK - When Michael Hingson was a student at the University of Califorina,
Irvine, one of his professors didn't believe he would succeed.

 

The professor wrote that Hingson, who is blind, would probably never be able
to absorb the materials necessary to get an advanced degree in physics
because he couldn't see.

 

Hingson, who now has a master's degree in physics, told that story to the
group of first year students gathered Tuesday at Ohio State
University-Newark's convocation to emphasize the importance of having an
open mind.

 

"We come into the world with a lot of different prejudices," he said. "It
doesn't matter if it's blindness or anything else. We need to be open to
learning different things. That's what college is all about."

 

The convocation is held every year during the campus' welcome week to
introduce new students to campus. OSU-Newark has about 1,200 freshmen
starting classes this semester, but many of the students who attended
Tuesday's event live in the school's residence hall, said public relations
specialist Francesca Amigo.

 

After several introductions, Hingson and his guide dog, Africa, took the
stage. He spoke to students about the importance of teamwork and coping with
the unexpected.

 

Those two things helped save his life Sept. 11, 2001, he said.

 

On the day of the terrorist attacks, Hingson was working as a regional sales
manager in his office on the 78th floor of the first tower of the World
Trade Center.

 

When the first plane hit the building, he heard a muffled explosion and felt
the building shift. But his first instinct wasn't to panic.

 

Hingson had familiarized himself with the building, just in case there was
ever an emergency. And he noticed Roselle, his guide dog at the time, wasn't
scared.

 

"I knew my partner wasn't giving any indication that she was afraid," he
said. "So I was able to focus."

 

They walked down the stairs and out of the World Trade Center where law
enforcement officers directed them away from the building.

 

Although Roselle kept Hingson from falling down stairs or walking into
obstacles, she relied on him to tell her where to go.

 

"The dog's job is to make sure I travel safely," he said. "She'll walk until
she can't walk any more. Her job isn't to know where I want to go."

 

Hingson and Roselle were still walking when the second World Trade Center
building fell. Although they were pelted with debris and dust, they were
able to find shelter in a building.

 

They ducked into another building when the first building fell.

 

"In the blink of an eye, the World Trade Center was destroyed," he said. "We
had gone in there three hours before."

 

Hingson said his ability to work together with Roselle and the people around
them is probably what kept him alive.

 

"It wasn't the dog, it wasn't me, it was both of us," he said.

 

Hingson decided to share his experience with others to promote inclusion and
teamwork to overcome obstacles.

 

He told the students they will all face life changing situations in their
lives. But he encouraged them to use those experiences to learn and be open
to new ideas and solutions.

 

During Sept. 11, people came together and made a difference. But over the
years, people have let differences prevent them from collaborating and
embracing new ideas, he said.

 

He encouraged students to have an open mind throughout their time at OSU-N.

 

"Things happened that took it away," he said. "I hope people will go back to
that."

 

ajeffries at newarkadvocate.com

740-328-8544