A look at the schedule of events for UA's Sept. 11 noon commemoration ceremony on the Mall suggests that political and religious influences will overshadow what should be a solemn, simple remembrance of the victims' lives.

In an attempt to not offend any group on campus, the itinerary is becoming saturated with politically-motivated events. Instead of paying tribute to specific people who lost their lives, the event will focus on the feelings of a few students whose poetry was selected by a committee to represent their own non-controversial views.

Instead of remembering the United States ÷ the country that was attacked ÷ the emphasis will be placed on including the flags of the home nations of all UA students.

Furthermore, through the inclusion of members of the University Religious Council, organizers are placing an inappropriate emphasis on religion.

Whatever role religion may have played in the attacks, selecting a few religions to stand on stage will exclude members of the student body who do not feel spoken for by those leaders ÷ but who were affected by the attacks.

The effort, a claimed attempt to ease hostility between religious groups on campus, is instead a diversion from the real meaning of the day.

The mere presence of Christian, Muslim, Jewish and other campus religious leaders on stage during President Peter Likins' noon remarks serves to intertwine political ideology and religion in what should be an event free of polemics.

The interfaith service at 5 p.m. the night of Sept. 11 is the appropriate time and place for their contribution to the commemoration effort.

Add to the Arizona State Museum's "Native American Blessing Ceremony" and University Medical Center's "Bio-Terrorism 2002" forum, along with a handful of other events around campus, and the day of Sept. 11 will allow very little time for reflection and silence.

Instead of a day filled with events attempting to shape our feelings, the commemoration needs to take a simple, universal focus ÷ remembering the victims.