UNLV students search for answers in wake of terrorist attacks

Jennifer Knight

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2001 | 9:23 a.m.

At a place where students go for answers, there were only questions.

Still, students enrolled in a class on Islamic politics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, wanted to know more about Tuesday's tragic events on the East Coast.

They also speculated on how President Bush would respond to the acts of terrorism, which resulted in the deaths of thousands of Americans.

"If they find out that a particular group did this, I think we would be right in waging a war of extermination against that particular group," said Randy Hallman, a senior majoring in political science.

Others questioned whether that scenario is possible.

"I wonder if this is something that's like pest control?" said Bob Ballard, a senior majoring in psychology. "Even when you try to eliminate the problem, you're never going to remove (terrorists) from the face of the Earth,"

Others proposed nonviolent solutions.

"I think we have learned that (terrorists) are powerful, and we need to respect them through the negotiation process," said one student, who wanted to be identified only as Thomas.

Discussion was not limited to the classroom.

Outside of UNLV's Beam Hall, a television showed footage of a speech by President Bush, who promised to bring those responsible for the attacks to justice.

"Have we retaliated in the past?" Associate Professor Mehran Tamadonfar, a specialist in Middle East studies, asked students in his class. "We've done that. So, is there any reason to believe that an act of aggression would change that?"

Tamadonfar talked about the need instead for a plan to deal with terrorism that transcends the current "no tolerance" policy. The reality is, he said, terrorism can't be contained, but it can be controlled.

Few students, however, will ever forget the morning of Sept. 11, 2001.

"I was sleeping and I heard everyone screaming," said Diane Vesci, a senior marketing major. "I'll never forget this, especially since I'm from New York and there are no towers any more."

Vesci said her family was still waiting to hear from her uncle, a New York City firefighter.