Despite early discussions to collaborate on a single ceremony, the city of Lawrence and Kansas University will have separate commemorations of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

“I wouldn’t say they’re two separate events,” said Lisa Patterson, city spokeswoman. “I’d say they’re complementary events.”

The city’s event, at Haskell Indian Nations University Stadium, will begin at 6 p.m. KU’s event, at the Campanile, begins at 8 p.m.

Mayor Sue Hack said at a meeting in early August that Reggie Robinson, Chancellor Robert Hemenway’s chief of staff, had called the city asking if the two entities should collaborate on one event.

But Patterson said by the time the two groups got together to discuss their plans, it was too late to combine them.

Robinson, Hack and Barbara Ballard, KU’s associate vice chancellor for student affairs who is planning the university event, did not return phone calls Monday.

The city will have a “commemoration ceremony” including a Color Guard, speeches by Hack and a yet-to-be-determined military official. Haskell officials will light a ceremonial ring of fire.

The American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars also are participating.

“It’s such an emotional time,” Patterson said. “We want to make sure we offer people a message of hope.”

KU will have a candlelight vigil beginning at 8 p.m. The university had a similar event Sept. 13, 2001, the day President Bush declared a Day of Prayer.

The event will include music and speakers. KU spokesman Todd Cohen said the official program would be announced later.

“It’s meant to be quiet, reflective and understated,” he said. “It will be a time for remembering the moment and remembering the victims.”