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Contact: Ranjit Arab, University Relations, (785) 864-8855.

KU faculty offer expertise on terrorist attacks, aftermath, counseling help

LAWRENCE -- Several faculty and staff members at the University of Kansas are lending their expertise in a wide range of areas to help answer questions people might have about the recent terrorist attacks and the possibility of war.

Late last week Tom Beisecker, president of the University Council and associate professor of communications studies, and Lloyd Sponholz, chair of SenEx and associate professor of history, contacted KU faculty and staff about making themselves available for campus talks, community workshops or individual queries.

By Friday morning, more than 30 KU faculty and staff members responded to the call for volunteers - and that list is expected to keep growing, Beisecker said.

The areas of expertise available to the community range from international politics and structural engineers to religious concepts and grief counseling.

"It was really an attempt to respond to a large request for information," Beisecker said. "Our goals are to educate, reassure and help people cope with what may seem like the 'un-copeable.'"

Beisecker said he was encouraged by the initial response from his colleagues. He hopes that both KU students and the community at large take advantage of this opportunity to gather and discuss the recent events.

"This is one of the central roles of the university," he said. "This is why we are here."

A list of faculty and staff volunteers, their area of expertise and their contact information follows:

Crisis communications
 • David Guth, journalism. Former reporter with expertise in crisis communications. Contact: (785) 864-0683.
 • Janet Rose, American studies. Interpretations of violence and perspectives of the media. Contact: (785) 864-2307.
 • Max Utsler, , journalism. Media coverage and media role in national crisis. Contact: (785) 864-0608.

Grief counseling
 • Rick Snyder, psychology. The psychology of hope. Contact: (785) 864-9855.
 • Gary Bachman, KUMC family practice. Responding to disaster and critical incident stress management. Contact: (913) 588-1921.
 • Gary Price, psychology/research in education. Facilitator and leader of greiving and loss. Contact: (785) 864-9650.
 • Mary Klayder, honors program. Grief counseling for students. Contact: (785) 864-2582.
 • Pok-Chi Lau, design. Volunteers to visit with individual students. Contact: (785) 864-3194.
 • Carol Robbins , social welfare. Experience counselor in death and dying. Contact: (785) 864-3797 or (785) 273-0717.
 • Brad Carter , graduate student in American studies. Dean at Methodist seminary for nine years, background in immediate grief care. Call 843-8175.
 • Donna Flory, psychology. Works with hospice and counsels on grief, loss and bereavement. Contact: (785) 864-4121.

Infrastructural issues
 • Kim Roddis, civil engineering. Structural engineer, Why the WTC collapsed. Contact: (785) 864-3736.
 • Steve McCabe, civil engineering. Structural engineer. Contact: (785) 864-3747.
 • Don Steeples, geology. Natural disasters and how to improve chances of survival in disasters of any kind. Contact: (785) 864-2730.

Military
 • Greg Freix, business. Retired Air Force pilot with expertise in large-scale missions. Contact: (785) 864-7544
 • Charles Keller, engineering. Strategy. What is appropriate response for U.S.? Contact: (913) 987-8497.
 • Joe Evans, electrical engineering and computer science. A commercial pilot, familiar with airspace procedures. Contact: (785) 864-8808.

Politics and history
 • Deborah Gerner, political science. U.S. foreign policy, Middle East politics (especially Israeli-Palestinian conflict), international mediation. Contact: (785) 864-9049.
 • Don Haider-Markel, political science. Extremist groups, American politics and public policy. Contact: (785) 864-9034.
 • Lorraine Bayard DeVolo, political science. Gender and war, revolution and how nations mobilize citizens to war. Contact: (785) 864-9044.
 • Philip Schrodt, political science. International conflict, U.S. defense policy and the Middle East (taught political science in Egypt and Palestine). Contact: (785) 864-9024.
 • Lloyd Sponholtz, history. Democracy vs. security: an American historical dilemma. Contact: (785) 864-9443.
 • Normal Saul, history. History, religion and ethnic background of Central Asia/Caucasus & Russian experience in Afghanistan . Contact: (785) 864-9468.
 • David Gottlieb, law. Criminal and constitutional law. Contact: (785) 864-9213.
 • Helen Hartnet, social welfare. How politics and issues of economy fuel our decisions. Contact: (785) 864-4720.

Religious/cultural issues
 • Thomas Heilke, political science. Origins, causes and psychological payoff of religious fanaticism. Implications of pacifism for a response to the tragedy. Contact: (785) 864-9037.
 • Mohamed El-Hodiri, economics. Islam (history, fundamentals, present day questions). Contact: (785) 864-3501.
 • Allan Hanson, anthropology. Coordinator of the Lawrence Coalition for Peace and Justice. Need to stop cycle of violence. Contact: (785) 864-2636.
 • Adrian Melott, physics. Traditional culture of Afghanistan. Contact: (785) 864-3037.
 • Dan Breslauer, religious studies. Religious implications of the WTC events. Contact: (785) 864-7255.

Terrorism
 • Felix Moos, anthropology. International terrorism. Contact: (785) 864-2643.
 • Jerry Dobson, geography. Developed global database for estimating populations at risk used for terrorist incidents and large-scale disasters. Contact: (785) 864-7700.
 • Ron Francisco, political science. Protest, repression and terror. Contact: (785) 864-9023.
 • Mark Algren, Applied English Center. Saudi Arabia, terrorism and religion (taught English in Saudi Arabia for 12 years). Contact: (785) 864-4606.
 • Brian Donovan, sociology. Implications of anti-terrorism statutes for civil liberties. Contact: (785) 864-4111.

Miscellaneous
 • Joshua Rosenbloom, economics. Economic repercussions of the recent terrorist attacks. Contact: (785) 864-2839.
 • Cindy Pierard, Spencer Research Library. Library staff will assist in creating resource lists for discussions or forums. Contact: (785) 864-8990.
 • Lee Gerhard, Kansas Geological Survey. The role of imported oil and the tragedy. Contact: (785) 864-2195.