Columns::CURO apprentices participate in national issues forum on terrorism

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Columns::September 8, 2003

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Katrin Usifo (left) and Matthew Evan were among the group of CURO apprentices from UGA participating in the National Issues Forum discussion of terrorism.

CURO apprentices participate in national issues forum on terrorism

By Joelle Prine
jprine@uga.edu

As the second anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks approaches, Americans continue to debate the appropriate national response to terrorism. A group of UGA students participating in the apprentice program of the Center for Undergraduate Research Opportunities recently grappled with this topic.
Led by CURO senior peer advisers Linton Mann III and Greg Fonzo, 24 first- and second-year apprentices participated

Linton Mann (standing) helped lead CURO apprentices through a National Issues Forum discussion of international terrorism.

in the National Issues Forum on “Terrorism: What Should We Do Now?” The discussion was part of a course the students take to get an overview of research methods, issues and applications. CURO coordinator Pamela Kleiber, who also serves as associate director of UGA’s Honors Program, introduced the National Issues Forum concept as an example of social science research in action.
“We are always looking for ways to educate our CURO students on how research plays such an important role in everyday life,” says Kleiber. “Through involvement in the National Issues Forum, the apprentices became part of a national discussion on research-based public policy, using their critical thinking skills in studying the evidence presented.”
Mann and Fonzo, both previous CURO apprentices, received training beforehand and used an NIF issue book that presented three approaches to curbing terrorism. The group then compared the advantages and disadvantages of using military action, tightening domestic security or trying to improve relations with the Middle East.
“As future leaders, we are responsible for bearing the burdens or benefits that America’s response to terrorism will create,” says Mann, a third-year student majoring in political science and speech communications. “For this reason, it is vital for students to get involved in the NIF forums and learn as much as possible about this very important issue. The forum also forces the CURO apprentices to look at an issue from several different vantage points, a skill that will help them later on when they write hypotheses for their research projects.”
The results of these forums, along with two other forums held on campus, were presented as part of the NIF briefing at the Jimmy Carter Library in Atlanta on Sept. 6. Alexander Skiles and Noelle Albano, honors students, talked about the forum they had led in Myers Hall. Elaine Manglitz, associate director of UGA’s Learning Disabilities Center, discussed the community forum for Athens residents she had moderated at the Georgia Center for Continuing Education.
“I believe the general consensus was the U.S. government’s approach to combating terrorism needs improvement and revision,” says Fonzo, a third-year biology and psychology student. “But there was not a general agreement on what changes need to be made.”
According to the NIF report on reactions of forum participants nationally, a balance between combating terrorism and protecting American citizens’ rights must be achieved through careful consideration and the development of both short- and long-term multifaceted strategies. The forums took place in 40 states and the District of Columbia from late 2001 to March 2003. More than 1,900 post-forum questionnaires were analyzed for the report compiled by Doble Research Associates and available online at www.nifi.org. On Sept. 10 at 7 p.m. in Moore College, Alex Nunez, a second-year CURO apprentice and history and international affairs major, will lead a forum on terrorism here.
“Having a discussion of a major international issue like terrorism on a college campus encourages students to look beyond Georgia and understand that, ultimately, the decisions of our country influence outcomes of many other nations,” he says. “We cannot think that the United States can thrive on its own nor can we believe we can do whatever we want when we want.”

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