Summer Courses Tackle Terrorism
By Greg Guenthner
Broadside Staff Writer

With the events of Sept. 11 still fresh in most students’ minds, George Mason University is offering many classes and special topic seminars dealing with terrorism. Many departments at Mason are offering these special topics. “Agents of Bioterrorism” is a class offered through the biology department. According to the summer schedule of classes, the 1-credit class will discuss the history of bioterrorism and the microorganisms that are used as biological weapons. The communication department is offering various different topics, including “Media Stereotypes of Arab Americans and Terrorism in the News.”

One of the courses, entitled “Military Tribunals: A Primer for Journalists and the Public,” addresses the possibility that military tribunals could be the solution to prosecuting suspected terrorists. A series of government 490 seminars regarding civil liberties after Sept. 11, terrorism and policing and international relations is also being offered. Dennis Pluchinsky is teaching the primer on international terrorism. Pluchinsky has taught courses on terrorism at George Washington University, James Madison University, Mary Washington College and the Joint Military Intelligence College. He has been a terrorism analyst with the Department of State since 1977 and is currently a division chief for the Middle East and Asia in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security. “I hope to address the basic elements of the topic,” he said. “What is terrorism, where is it found, who uses it and why, what form it takes, how much terrorism is there, and what the U.S. government is doing to contain it.”

Edward Maguire, a professor in the administration of justice program who specializes in the study of local police organizations, is teaching the seminar on “Terrorism and Local Policing.” The 1-credit course will meet three times and host guest speakers such as police officers and other terrorism experts. “In the course, I will discuss issues related to preparation for and response to terrorist incidents,” Maguire explained. “This will include a variety of specific topics, including technology, coordination with other agencies, department policies and numerous other issues that local police agencies are now thinking about.” For more information, about “Special Topics in Community and World Affairs”, review the special topics section in the Summer 2002 schedule of classes.