Although the date Sept. 11 is one associated with grief and tragedy, it is also the date a determined group of ISU students first came together to promote a message of peace and hope.

The idea for campus group Time for Peace was born on Sept. 11, 2001 and it came out of grief, said Omar Tesdell, co-founder of Time for Peace. He said he ran into his friend Nick Wethington, senior in English, by chance that day and they felt compelled to get some of their friends together to see what they could do.

They met in the Maple-Willow-Larch commons, and from that initial meeting Time for Peace was formed, said Tesdell, senior in journalism and mass communications and Daily staff columnist.

The group feared there would be significant retaliation by the United States after the attacks and wanted to know what they could do to promote a message of peace, he said.

Ramsey Tesdell, member of the steering committee for Time for Peace and sophomore in technical communication, said he helps the group work toward common goals.

Thirty-six hours after the attacks, Time for Peace was listed as a student organization, Ramsey said. The attacks were “a wake-up call,” he said.

Time for Peace started a vigil the Sunday night after the attacks.

The vigil has been held every week since, Omar said.

“[We’ve had a] weekly presence somewhere for the last two years,” he said. These weekly vigils have been a cornerstone of Time for Peace, Omar said.

Leading up to the war in Iraq, Time for Peace’s efforts were to protest the war, both nationally and locally, Ramsey said. The purpose was to raise the public’s awareness; get as many people as they could to listen to their cause in order to achieve peace, he said.

“[We’ve] been very lucky to have a lot of committed people,” Omar said.

Time for Peace tries to actively respond to people who disagree with them, Omar said.

“Sometimes people have to agree to disagree,” he said.

Kerry Lao, freshman in pre-architecture, said she joined Time for Peace because she had heard about it from her sister, Kelly.

“[The vigils] sounded like a good, spiritual experience,” Lao said. She said she is an advocate for peace and joining was a good way for her to meet people with the same views.

Maite Lizaso, junior in psychology, said she joined Time for Peace this past March because she believed in the same things as other members — the “power of non-violence.” She also said she wanted to join in protesting the war and to “make myself heard.”

Being active in an organization of this type has not always been easy, Ramsey said.

When Time for Peace was attempting to get the Government of the Student Body to pass a resolution denouncing the war, members of the organization received a lot of negative feedback, he said. Members experienced “very anti-us” feelings, Ramsey said.

He said he has a lot of friends in the military and he has a lot of respect for them.

“I love this country and [it] hurts to be called unpatriotic,” Ramsey said.

One of Time for Peace’s principles is to seek inner peace, Ramsey said.

Time for Peace is interested in non-violence as a philosophy and way of life, Omar said. The core interest is centered around non-violence as a way of life; how people can solve conflicts on a personal level on up, he said.

Omar said he was always sure of his own beliefs, but doubted whether it was the right time for him to be active with his beliefs.

Ramsey said he believes people join Time for Peace because “it’s a scary time in world history.” The United States has tried war and fighting, maybe it’s time to try something new, he said.

Time for Peace offers activities that empower its members, he said. A lot of people join because they feel helpless and they are offered a voice through the organization, Ramsey said. When he joined Time for Peace, he said he had no expectations because he had never participated in an organization like Time for Peace before. Being involved in Time for Peace has made him feel like he is a part of the country and that he has a voice, Ramsey said.

It has been difficult to participate in nationwide vigils because they are held in San Francisco or Washington, D.C., Ramsey said. It is important to reach out to the local community, he said.