As a freshman mass communication student in September 2001, we had a weekly one-question test that asked us to write down the biggest news of the week. Given that I'm a very late riser, all of my college homework and class preparation took place in the late hours of the night. So on Monday, September 10, 2001, I memorized some arbitrary news item to have ready for when I rolled out of bed at 11:45 a.m. for my noon class across campus the next day. I was too pleased with myself as I scribbled down that Michael Jackson had wrapped the recording of his 30th-anniversary concert special. As I sat smiling, I noticed a somberness I had never felt from my classmates. "I don't even have to collect these to know that everyone wrote the same thing," our teacher said, as she in fact did collect our papers.  Beyond confused I did like any good college student would do and played along.   "Yeah, that was so crazy this morning!" a classmate yelled.  This morning , I thought, teeth clenched tight...