The United States suffered a tragic loss Tuesday, and the impact was felt throughout the country, even at Ohio State. Changes have been made to Welcome Week in honor of those who died in the tragic attacks and the victims who survived.

The extra events that have been added are also to aid the OSU students who have been affected by the catastrophe.

“We want something to help those who have been affected, not only in New York and D.C. but here on campus,” said Matt Tamanini, co-chairman of the Welcome Week Committee and a junior in history and communications.

Tamanini said one of the additions to Welcome Week is a candlelight vigil.

According to Vice President for Student Affairs, Bill Hall, the vigil is set to begin around sunset at 8 p.m. Wednesday on the Oval. Music will start at about 7:30 p.m. The time was chosen purposely because all the new freshmen will be on campus, and the Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, will have ended.

Due to scheduling conflicts with the vigil, Scarlet Fever will be postponed. Hall hopes that the event will be rescheduled for another day during fall quarter.

President William “Brit” Kirwan, David Citini and a student leader, who has yet to be named, will be some of the featured speakers, Hall said. Citini will recite a poem he wrote specifically for the event.

“The major goal is tolerance and support for each other,” Hall said. “Everyone in the campus community will be affected. We need to support, encourage and come together as a campus. We are not going to support those that are intolerant.”

Many students walking through the Ohio Union may notice something there that they have never seen before – a graffiti wall.

The graffiti wall is another new feature added to Welcome Week, Tamanini said. Students have the chance to share their thoughts and concerns about the terrorist attack and write about it. The wall will then be kept in storage and used, perhaps, at a later date.

Those stopping by the Ohio Union also have a chance to thank all the volunteers who have been working through the rubble night and day trying to rescue survivors and clear away the awful mess.

Hall mentioned Student Activities will be handing out free postcards for the students to write their own notes. The postcards will be sent to the various volunteer organizations.

Tamanini said the Office of Student Affairs will also be sponsoring a ribbon campaign. White, upside down ribbons, representing the wings of an airplane, will be sold throughout the entire week with the proceeds to go to New York in honor of the victims.

Hall also added students can donate any amount they have to give for each ribbon.

Another Welcome Week event, Loveline, will feature Dr. Drew Pinsky and Adam Carolla, from MTV’s old television series “Loveline.” They will be making a special appearance at 8:30 p.m. Friday at the Mershon Center, said Matt Couch, the assistant director of Student Activities. The two will give a short presentation followed by a question and answer session.

Couch said tickets are free and will be available to the public starting noon tomorrow at the Office of Student Activities in room 211 of the Ohio Union and at the Wexner Center.

Along with the extra activities, many of the same old events will also be scheduled, including the President’s Convocation.

The convocation will kick off Welcome Week at 10:30 a.m. today at St. John’s Arena, said Amy Murray, assistant director of Media Relations. After the academic regalia, a march will take place to Ohio Stadium, where there will be a balloon drop procession into the stadium.

Freshmen are going to receive a scarlet and gray tassel to symbolize the beginning of their college education, Murray said.

Murray said Kirwan, City attorney Janet Jackson and Mabel Freeman of First Year Experience will be some of the featured speakers.

Other events from the 130 different activities will be the Student Involvement Fair, Buckeye Bash, the outdoor movie and Community Commitment, Couch said.

According to Couch, the Student Involvement Fair, featuring more than 500 booths, will be from noon to 4 p.m. and Buckeye Bash will be from noon to 2 p.m. Both events will be today on the Oval.