Several ASU departments have risen to the challenge of helping students cope after the terrorist attacks in Washington, D.C. and New York City. Groups are offering emotional support to students dealing with the tragedy and conducting open discussions to prevent backlash to Middle Eastern students on campus.
According to Dawn Bates, chairman of the Campus Environment Team, the ASU Police Department has increased its presence on campus. Residential Life is planning meetings on awareness and safety, and Intergroup Relations is compiling a web-based educational guide for faculty on cultural conflict.
Keith Richards, spokesman for campus police, declined to discuss details surrounding increased campus security.
“I will only say that we are increasing patrols on campus, both uniformed and plain-clothed,” Richards said.
Programs on campus to allay stresses related to the attack can be important for both students and faculty. Joe Foote, director of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Telecommunication and an expert on terrorism, said, “One of the problems with terrorism is the incredible vigilance that has to be maintained by people who are in fear of it.”
“It’s a cumulative stress that takes its toll on people after a while, both what is real and what is feared to be real,” Foote said. “Terrorism succeeds to a certain extent when people are placed in a position where they fear their next move.”
Reach Victor Allen at victordallen@asu.edu.
