Attacks altering college courses

Jennifer Knight

Thursday, Oct. 4, 2001 | 9:53 a.m.

Last month's terrorist attacks forever changed America's political landscape. Now, they are changing the college curriculums of tomorrow.

Community College of Southern Nevada officials are considering creating a class focusing on Middle East politics, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, may offer a special eight-week course focusing on international relations.

In addition, UNLV courses scheduled a year from now could be made available in the spring semester.

"I get a lot of phone calls every day, not only from my political science students but from people in the community who want these courses," said Mehran Tamadonfar, an associate professor of political science at UNLV who specializes in Middle East politics.

"I'm inclined to consider doing more, simply because of the interest that's been expressed."

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, colleges have served as a gathering place, in which members of the community grieved and discussed the tragic events. Discussion panels, teach-ins, prayer vigils, blood drives, fund-raising events and memorial services have been held.

Now, educators are trying to give by supplying an obvious, yet sought after resource -- knowledge.

For years UNLV has been among a handful of Western schools to offer a wide range of courses in Middle East politics.

Courses, such as "National Security Policy," "Political Violence" and "International Relations of the Middle East" are listed in the UNLV catalog. Few of those courses, until just recently, were slated to be offered next spring.

That is because the attacks on American icons of financial prowess and military might left behind a collective 'why?' said Charles Okeke, department chair of CCSN's philosophical and religious studies. Higher education is trying to fill the void.

"That's what education is supposed to do ... to look at the issues that haven't been looked at," Okeke said.

Classes already in session this fall are being tailored to fit changing economic and political realities.

Dr. Jonathan Strand said he has changed his syllabus to cover former President Clinton's efforts to bomb Osama bin Laden in 1998, a subject that was scheduled for discussion later this semester.

Students in Strand's foreign policy class have been given a list of new items to read as students attempt to stay abreast of U.S. foreign policy, specifically as it applies to the Middle East.

There is such interest in Middle East politics, said Strand, that a large number of students have chosen terrorism as the subject for their research papers.

Tamadonfar political science graduates, more than any other subject, have chosen the Middle East as a topic for research papers.

"People are suggesting that the one positive thing that is coming out of this horrendous act is for people to start asking about issues of policy," Tamadonfar said.