8A • THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
ONE YEAR LATER
WEDNESDAY,SEPTEMBER11,2002
Students line up for class on terror
By Michelle Burhenn
Kansan staff writer
About 10 students show up to "Government Response to Extremist Groups" every Tuesday and Thursday and wait for one of the students who is enrolled to drop.
The course is one of several classes at the University of Kansas dealing with issues pertinent to the Sept. 11 attacks that have seen a rise in enrollment and student interest.
Don Haider-Markel, the course's instructor and assistant professor of political science, said he had no problem accommodating the increased interest by handing out closed-class openers, but the classroom had now reached full capacity.
Penny Beesley, Kansas City, Mo., junior, said she was taking the course because she wanted to work in the foreign service but also because of her interest in Sept. 11.
"Because of 9/11, I think I need to be more knowlegable about terrorist and extremist groups than I would have
needed to be in the past." Beesley said.
She said she thought professors addressed the issue appropriately.
"In most classes I've taken in a variety of subjects, it has at least come up once," she said.
Matthew Dunavan, Topeka senior, said he didn't take the course because of Sept. 11, but the attacks had changed his learning experience.
"I've always been interested in domestic terrorist groups," he said. "But especially in light of the recent events I thought it would be even more enlightening."
Kathy Libal, lecturer and instructor of "Islam and Politics" said about half of her students took the class for reasons related to the attacks.
She said her class was full, but that was typical.
Melissa Filippi-Franz Lawrence graduate student, said she would have taken the class regardless of the attacks. She said she thought more students at the University should enroll in similar courses.
"I think a lot of the thoughts out there about Islam are wrong," Filippi-Franz said. "I think by taking a class like this you understand why these groups exist and why they have such a fervor against the U.S."
Another class that addressed Sept. 11 changed a student's major.
Aaron Kirby, Los Angeles senior, said he changed his major from fire science to a specialized major in asymmetric warfare and terrorism after he took "Violence, Aggression and Terrorism in the Modern World" last spring.
"I hope to be able to educate people in power and about the causes and effects of terrorism," he said.
Kirby said the class —which is taught by Ron Olin, Lawrence chief of police, and Felix Moos, professor of anthropology addressed the causes and effects of terrorism more accurately than any other class offered.
"I think the class helped answer a lot of questions students have and some of the reason why you have global conflict," Kirby
"I think by taking a class like this you understand why these groups exist and why they have such a fervor against the U.S."
Melissa Filippi-Franz
Lawrence graduate student
said. "I think more attention should be paid to the subject and more issues from both sides of the political spectrum should be addressed."
The class, he said, offered students at the University an education that many other colleges couldn't.
"We're extremely lucky to have a class here at KU that addresses this issue and has for so long," Kirby said.
"I think many universities around the country — and their students — are scrambling for them."
mburhnm@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Norton.
Contact Burhenn at
File Photo
Lilly Mason, Lawrence graduate student, plants a flag with a peace symbol on it in front of Wescoe Hall. About 250 people attended an open-microphone forum last September to speak about the terrorist attacks and the resulting conflict.
Counselors on hand to listen to students
By Lindsay Hanson Kansan staff writer
Today's anniversary of the terrorist attacks may affect more students than just those who suffered personal losses.
John Wade, outreach coordinator for Counseling and Psychological Services, said those suffering from other emotional issues might be affected by the emotional atmosphere of the anniversary.
For that reason, he said, CAPS would increase communication lines with students today, standing by at residence hall group activities and other memorial events on campus.
"There's a potential of reopening old wounds," Wade said.
Diana Robertson, associate director for residence life, said she expected the residence hall meetings to be similar to last year's impromptu gatherings.
"They'll be just kind of clustered around the TVs in the living areas," Robertson said.
In addition to dispersing staff members throughout campus, CAPS will hold Wednesday office hours on the second floor of Watkins Memorial Health Center from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Although most appointments are usually made in advance, the department will prioritize walk-ins today.
"We're trying to be available if there would be people who would like to talk." Wade said.
These meetings will focus on hope for the future rather than pessimism about the past, he said. The counselors want to look at how the attacks have positively affected the country.
"For example, there is an increased appreciation for firefighters, police, the experiences of others, and especially the value of human life," he said.
Despite extensive media coverage leading up to today, Wade said few people had come to the office because of the Sept. 11 anniversary as of yesterday.
"We realize that a year later, not everybody will have a high level of distress about this," Wade said. "We just want to be proactive and prepared."
was edited by Amanda Sears.
lhanson@kansan.com. This story
Contact Hanson at
Religion provides answers to tragedy
By Aaron Passman Kansan staff reporter
Sept. 11 left a world full of unanswered questions, but religious groups at the University of Kansas have been actively searching for answers through spirituality and understanding.
One of these groups, the KU Muslim Student Association, has spent the past year trying to educate the public about Muslims and the Islamic faith.
"Many people in the Muslim community felt a responsibility to educate Lawrence about Islam," said Gasim Bukhari, president of the association.
Bukhari, a Saudi Arabia graduate student, said the group and its audience grew.
"We went from just a student organization celebrating Islam to a group working to educate and inform the public about Islam," Bukhari said.
Bukhari said the Lawrence community's reaction after Sept. 11 was "amazingly supportive" and in the past year people had been open to learning more about Islam.
Attendance and activism is also up at the St. Lawrence Catholic Campus Center.
"It's hard to say if the increase is directly related to 9/11, but it may be," said Vince Krische, director of the center.
Krische said the center had experienced positive growth as a result of Sept. 11 -200 people were in the theology class, with another 50 trying to get in.
The center's 4:30 p.m. mass today will be devoted to Sept. 11, and Krische said he expected nearly 400 people to attend.
Jay Lewis, executive director for KU Hillel said Hillel's student leaders had decided not to hold any special religious ceremonies on the Sept. 11 anniversary. But he said that throughout the year there has been increased interest in the Jewish campus group.
"People are looking for answers and understanding, and that's led to a renewed interest in religion and spirituality," Lewis said.
Lewis said although the groups programs had not changed, Hillel had grown in the last year.
Some turn to religion in times of crisis, but members of KU's Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics only look to each other for support.
"Secular people in general
Groups take varied roles after attacks
By Aaron Passman
Kansan staff reporter
During the past year, the University of Kansas political groups have worked to incorporate Sept. 11 issues into their organizations.
Erin Blocher, KU College Republicans Chairwoman, said the group's political discussions had changed in the last year.
"There's definitely more of a focus on international policy as well as domestic issues," Blocher, Colorado Springs, Colo. senior, said.
Blocher said the College Republicans had seen a big increase in attendance in the past year, but she was not sure if it was related to Sept. 11 or not.
Mark Goode, KU Young Democrats vice-president, said the group had not changed much as a result of Sept. 11.
"The Sept. 11 topic comes up a lot in passing, but it's not usually our main focus of discussion," said Goode, Littleton, Colo. senior.
Attendance was up for KU Greens this year, said Galen Turner, Lawrence senior, and co-coordinator for the organization. He said the attacks may not have inspired interest in the group, but they did bring politics to the forefront of people's minds.
Contact Passman at apassman@kansan.com. This story was edited by Nicole Roche.
were strongly affected by Sept. 11, but don't have the fall back of religion to make us feel like everything's okay," said Stephanie Kirmer, Topeka freshman and president of the society.
"You don't need religion to tell you what to do in a crisis, you need understanding," Kirmer said.
Contact Passman at
Contact Passman at apassman@kansan.com. This story was edited by Adam Pracht.
New program to link KU to INS
By Molly Gise
Kansan staff write
International Student and Scholar Services will receive $80,000 from the University of Kansas' tuition enhancement budget, but all of it will go to help pay start-up costs for a government-mandated program to track international students.
The program, the Student Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, is an electronic link between the Immigration and Naturalization Service and universities nationwide. Information provided by universities about international students is uploaded to a Web site that can be accessed by INS officials.
The program has been praised as a long-overdue upgrade to the old INS system of tracking international students, but the program poses a headache to schools required to use it, including the University of Kansas.
ISS director Joe Potts said the new system created more work both for his department and for international students.
time and staff energy to inform students what they need to do to stay legal," Potts said.
This system may create a precarious situation for international students. For example, international students who fall below full-time status without approval may lose their student visas.
"It will take a fair amount of
"Once they lose that status," Potts said, "it will be very hard to help them get back their status."
The tuition money allocated to pay for the program would allow ISS to provide the same level of service to the University's approximately 1,700 international students, said Provost David Shulenburger.
"We're going to have to monitor whether international students are attending class and do all sorts of things we'd rather not do, but we have to as a condition of bringing international students to campus." Shulenburger said in an earlier interview.
The $80,000 will cover the cost of computer equipment, software and a new staff position to run the system. The University must begin using the program by January.
The new program targets international students as possible terrorists, said Federico Curranza-Kopper, International Student Association senator.
In addition to the information they have provided for years to the INS, like addresses and degree programs of international students, universities must notify the agency within 24 hours if a student drops out or never shows up on campus.
"I understand the point," Carranza-Kopper, Costa Rica senior, said. "But after being here three to four years, suddenly you feel like you're being treated as a potential threat instead of a student who's happy to be in the U.S. and is trying to learn more about this culture."
The program is a response to the Sept. 11 attacks. The INS came under scrutiny after the attacks when it learned that three of the hijackers legally entered the United States with student visas. Student visas for two more hijackers were issued in March, casting more doubt on the agency's system for tracking international students.
Contact Gise at mgise@kansan.com. This story was edited by Matt Norton.
Local bands play down anniversary
By Louise Stauffer
Bands that play in Lawrence tonight are either choosing to keep the theme of Sept. 11 lowkey or non-existent in their performance, which fits right into the plans for students who want to go out as usual.
"I'll probably go out and enjoy myself," Simon Skinner, Topeka sophomore, said. "You have to continue to live life and have fun."
Kansan staff writer
Aaron Johnson, Plymouth Minn., senior, said he would grieve during the day.
"But it won't really play an effect on whether I go out," he said.
Tonight, the band Ghosty is performing at The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, along with Spoon and John Vanderslice. Members of Ghosty decided to recognize the one-year anniversary by playing songs by only American composers, Richard Gintowt, Palatine, Ill., senior, said.
Gintowt said he and the other band members Andrew Connor, Sioux Falls, Ia., senior, and Jacob Baum, Hays senior, were not aware of the date when they first
agreed to do the show.
"I would rather it not have been on that day, but my friends seem to be fine with it," Gintowt said.
Lastyear, Ghostly played At The Bottleneck on Sept. 12.
However they performed without a problem.
He said that, at the time, the band was not sure whether last's years performance would even happen.
"That was strange," Gintowt said.
Gintowt said his band had no other plans for the Sept. 11 gig.
"We haven't worked up any tribute songs or anything," Gintowt said. "No Bruce Springsteen covers vet."
David Swalve, Lawrence resident, with Julia Peterson, is performing at the Jazzhaus this evening, said he also has no idea how the crowds will be.
He and Peterson discussed how they were going to recognize the date in their performance and how they were going to express their emotions on stage.
"it's going to be a celebration of Americana," he said.
Swalve said he and Peterson, who are singer and songwriters.
"As an artist, you're not thinking about how many people are going to show up, you're thinking about humanity," he said.
were planning on performing a couple of songs that talk about America.
Aaron Crim, Kansas City graduate, of the band GCT Trio said they were not aware when they booked the gig at the Eighth Street Tap Room, 801 New Hampshire St., that it would fall on the Sept. 11 anniversary.
Crim said he was afraid no one was going to show up because of the date.
He said he and the other band members David Gnojek, Lawrence senior, and Ray Thiry, Olathe sophomore had no plans to make their performance tonight any different than usual.
Crim said there would be no patriotic connotations to the music.
He said part of the reason was that the band was planning on recording their performance.
"It's going to be strictly business," Crim said.
Contact Louise Stauffer @ Istaufer@kansan.com. This story was edited by Amanda Sears and Nicole Roché.