PROVIDENCE, R.I. — October 25, 2001 — The University of Rhode Providence Campus has initiated a series of brown bag lectures designed to help inform the public about the impact of terrorism on our society. The lectures will be held from noon to 1 p.m. in the Paff Auditorium.
The free series, coordinated by URI Providence Campus Student Services, is open to all, including college students in the area. Since the campus is located at 80 Washington Street, in the heart of Providence, business persons are encouraged to drop in to hear about these timely and relevant subjects. People can bring their own brown bag lunch or purchase one at the school’s cafeteria.
The series will kick off on Oct. 29 with a talk on bio-terrorism. Here is a list of the topics and speakers:
MONDAY, OCT. 29: “Bioterrorism: History and Current Situation. ” The speakers will be James Hardiman, M.D., medical director of URI Health Services and Gregory Paquette, Ph.D., director of URI Clinical Laboratory Science Programs in the Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, who will talk on the history of biological warfare, bio-terrorism and an overview of the current situation. The speakers will also discuss prevention, diagnosis and treatment of the most likely biological threats: anthrax, smallpox and plague.
MONDAY, NOV. 5: “Islam, Middle East, and the Campaign Against Terrorism.” Mohammed Sharif, URI professor of economics, will focus on what Islam is, who the Muslims are, the situation in the Middle East, and terrorism and our campaign to eradicate it. Sharif is founding and current president of the Southern Rhode Island Islamic Society and founding president of the Muslim Heritage Council, a partner of the Heritage Harbor Museum. He is principal organizer of the annual URI Muslim Cultural Heritage program and the frequently displayed “Discover Islam and Muslim Culture” exhibit.
MONDAY, NOV. 19: “The Brave New World of 21st Century Terrorism.” URI political scientist Marc Genest, a terrorism expert, is also an adjunct professor at the U.S. Naval War College. In 2000, Genest was a visiting professor of international security at the Air Force War College in Montgomery, Ala. and also served as a consultant for the Department of Defense where he instructed military personnel on international security, American foreign policy and international politics while deployed in the South Pacific and Far East. “The 20th Century was characterized by conflicts between states, but we have now entered a new era in which conflict will primarily revolve around the contest of supremacy between states and sub-national actors. Unfortunately for all of us, the common weapon of sub-national groups is terrorism” said Genest.
MONDAY, NOV. 26: “Muslim Opponents of Extremist Islamic Thought.” Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, professor of anthropology and director of general education at Rhode Island College, will focus on the broader spectrum of political and religious thought in the Muslim world than the U.S. and the West admit in its view of the Arab-Islamic world. Opponents of the extremist trend have been writing and speaking out for decades prior to the current crisis precipitated by the Sept. 11 attacks. These anti-extremist activists have spoken out often at risk to their own personal security or ability to remain in their own countries. The presentation brings to light their ideas and practice in the struggle against extremism.
The series is sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost for Urban Affairs and the URI Alan Shawn Feinstein College of Continuing Education Student Services. For more information, please call 277-5000.
For Information: Anne Caldarella, 277-5014, Jan Wenzel, 874-2116