Media Tip Sheet: One-Year Anniversary of 9-11 Â?? Issues Brought to Light by the September 11 Tragedies

Note to Editors: The following is a collection of media tips that includes experts and resources at Colorado State University. The media tip sheet is intended to provide resources to reporters and editors and is not intended as contact information for the public.

War and the National and Colorado Economy
Ron Phillips, professor of Economics at Colorado State University, can discuss the challenges the U.S. economy may face in the coming year as well as how last year’s terrorist attacks continue to impact the economy. Phillips says that pervasive feelings of uncertainty about the future have offset any positive economic effects of rebuilding after the events of Sept. 11. He notes that, in contrast to other wars, government spending for the war on terrorism and for a potential military intervention in Iraq is not creating many new jobs. Instead, he predicts a military intervention in Iraq will likely negatively affect people’s expectations about the future and consumer confidence. Phillips predicts that, although traditional economic stimuli including tax cuts and low interest rates will remain in place, there will not be an economic recovery in the next year. Further, since it is not an election year, we can’t look forward to the typical economic boost we enjoy every four years.

Stephan Weiler, a specialist on Colorado’s economy, says that the state is now mirroring the nation’s general atmosphere of economic uncertainty. Both the nation and the state have been performing an economic balancing act since the recession began last year. In Colorado, layoffs, along with the added strain of an extreme drought and fire season have tipped the balance in a negative direction. United Airlines’ economic woes pose another uncertainty for the state, which is a United hub.
Contact: June Greist, June.Greist@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1194

Teaching Young People Peacemaking Skills.
Terrorism, war and violence take a horrendous toll, but for Bill Timpson, director of Colorado State’s Center for Teaching and Learning, these uncertain times also have spurred him to search for ways in which teachers can contribute actively to peacemaking. Timpson offers a range of ideas about how to teach about peace in times of war and military reprisal. He suggests ways for instructors and others in leadership positions to help young people manage their own anger and aggressiveness when violence is so prevalent in their lives, in schools, on the streets and in the news. His suggestions are designed to nurture open communication, cooperation, empathy and the positive climate important for addressing the sensitive and complex issues that society faces today.
Contact: June Greist, June.Greist@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1194

Middle-Eastern History and Cultures.
Colorado State University’s experts can discuss Middle Eastern countries, history, cultures, languages and religions, including the history and beliefs of Islam.
Contact: June Greist, June.Greist@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1194

How Have Americans Coped During this Stressful Year?
Worry and anxiety about potential danger with no clear idea on what action to take can be debilitating. Although the daily routine of many Americans may returning to normal, many people still feel anxious, fearful and stressed by current events, economic uncertainty and thoughts about terrorism in the future. Colorado State psychology experts can discuss how sleep, work and daily interaction with family and colleagues have been affected by the terrorist attacks and can detail the strategies that continue to help Americans cope.
Contact: June Greist, June.Greist@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1194

Preparing Water Utilities for Disasters.
Neil Grigg, civil engineering professor, renowned water resources consultant and nationally recognized expert in the fields of water resources engineering and urban water systems management, is available to discuss preparing for and responding to disasters to urban water supply systems, including terrorist attacks. Grigg recently led a group of the nation’s top water utility managers in a conference that focused on assessing water system vulnerability against human-caused and natural disasters. Grigg has authored or co-authored about 200 publications, including several books, about water resources engineering and infrastructure.
Contact: Brad Bohlander, Brad.Bohlander@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1545

The Center for Geosciences Supports Nation’s Security Efforts.
Colorado State University’s Center for Geosciences is supporting the nation’s security efforts by providing environmental research to Army, Navy and Air Force scientists for use in homeland defense. The center, led by Thomas Vonder Haar, a university distinguished professor of atmospheric science and director of the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere, focuses on the study of weather patterns and how they affect military operations. The center recently received a $1.8 million federal grant to enhance its 16-year history of providing research to the Department of Defense. Vonder Haar is available to discuss how U.S. aircraft operations in the war against terrorism and local area missile defense for the homeland are significantly affected by weather conditions, as well as how research at the center is helping to overcome a variety of challenges imposed by weather phenomena.
Contact: Brad Bohlander, Brad.Bohlander@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1545

Chemical Terrorism and Biological Warfare.
Anthony Tu, professor emeritus of biochemistry and internationally recognized toxicology expert, is available to discuss chemical terrorism, biological warfare and protection against toxic substances. Tu will serve as a keynote speaker at the Weapons of Mass Destruction 2002-Protecting the Community Conference, Nov. 4-5 in Washington D.C. Tu recently was a keynote speaker at the Seventh International Symposium on Protection against Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents in Stockholm. In May, he gave the keynote speech at the Japanese Society of Trauma in Tokyo regarding the prevention of biological weapons. In December, he will be a keynote speaker at the Singapore International Symposium on Protection against Toxic Substances and will present a discussion on the use of chemicals and toxins as terrorist weapons in the wake of Sept. 11. Tu aided Japanese officials in their investigation that linked Aum Shinrikyo with the manufacture and use of sarin and helped convict the sect’s leader for the 1994 Tokyo subway chemical terrorism attack.
Contact: Brad Bohlander, Brad.Bohlander@colostate.edu, (970) 491-1545