Like many people on Sept. 11, Andrea Westover turned to the comfort of her cellular phone. She used all of her monthly minutes calling people she loves.

“I became closer to my family and friends,” the elementary education senior said. “I needed them and they needed support from me. It really makes you realize how much you love someone.”

Six months after the tragedy, Westover spent Monday in her regular routine of classes. But she still thinks about the day the World Trade Center and the Pentagon were attacked by terrorists.

“It’s touching to this day,” she said. “This kind of thing touches a lot of people, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. It’s a part of history and it’s sad. We’re told to go on, but it’s just kind of hard.

“It doesn’t matter if you lost someone or if you didn’t.”

Even for those students who weren’t directly affected, the tragedy’s anniversary became a part of their day. A Monday night candlelight vigil at the rock on Farm Lane - held coincidentally by Battle Against Cancer on the six-month anniversary of the attacks - was planned to raise awareness for cancer and cancer patients.

But remembering the fallen of the attacks became a natural addition.

“I saw a real correlation between Battle Against Cancer and September 11,” said Katie McEvoy, co-director of entertainment for the group. “So many lives were unnecessarily lost that day.”

The social relations sophomore told the group that every day, about 1,500 people die of cancer. The Sept. 11 terrorist attacks claimed more than 3,000 lives.

Students at the vigil talked about Sept. 11 as well as stories of friends and family who were dealing cancer.

But for other students, the anniversary of the tragedy was uneventful.

Physics junior David Ramsey said the six month anniversary of the terrorist attacks was like any other day.

“It didn’t affect me in hardly anyway at all,” he said. “Except for the ignorance in general - people go on and on about this and that, waving their flags and saying, ‘Nuke ’em,’ and that shows an ugly side of America.”

Psychology Professor Gary Stollak said he still hasn’t gotten over wars that were prominent in his life, such as World War II, the Korean War or the Vietnam War. But he said keeping busy with his life and staying focused on family and a career has helped him.

He said he expects the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to also remain with him - and many others - throughout life.

“We’re not going to be forgetting this, it doesn’t end,” he said. “I also believe that we should all grieve when we need to grieve - don’t deny that one is touched or how one feels about something.”

Stollak said being preoccupied with the events of Sept. 11 is not something people should be ashamed about - and some may want to consider counseling.

“You shouldn’t feel bad about still being affected by it,” he said.

But Stollak also said people shouldn’t regret rarely thinking of the attacks.

“Most of us cope by moving on,” he said. “It’s not time that does it, it’s being busy with the necessities and joys of daily life.”

Jessica Dorr, a zoology junior, is among the students moving on with her life. She said she was overwhelmed when she heard about the attacks, but isn’t anymore.

“I think about it, but am I worried about it happening again? Not really,” she said.

Dorr said she hasn’t had to work at coping with the attacks, but understands why some people have.

“I’m sure there will be more ceremonies,” she said. “We need time to make it better.”

Megan Frye can be reached at fryemega@msu.edu.

Ed Ronco can be reached at roncoedw@msu.edu.