WFU story ideas related to Sept. 11 anniversary

EFFECT OF 9/11 ON COLLEGE CLASSES — Cynthia Villagomez, assistant professor of history, teaches “The Middle East Before 1500” and has seen class sizes double since 2001. “I believe that my classes have swelled because our students have felt the need to develop an informed understanding of the Middle East and its dominant religion.” Ed Hendricks, professor of history, has taught the first-year seminar, “Fallout Shelters and the Cold War” for several years, but has changed the course content to include the Homeland Security Web site and discussions of connections between current events and Cold War history. “The course seems far more relevant to students now then when I first taught it,” Hendricks said. In Professor of Math James Kuzmanovich’s freshman seminar class, “Codes and Codebreaking,” students will assess the future of codes and code-breaking techniques in relation to the War on Terrorism and other U.S. wars. For more information on these classes or to arrange an interview, contact the News Service.

RUMORS, URBAN LEGENDS IN A POST-9/11 WORLD — Urban legends and rumors circulated on the Internet have taken on a new credibility in a post-9/11 world where terrorism breeds distrust and fear, says Connie Chesner, an adjunct instructor in communication at Wake Forest and an Internet rumors specialist. Chesner, who is on contract with the U.S. Air Force to provide consultation in rumor control, is available to comment on how rumors spread by advanced technologies can impact perceptions of a country. To arrange an interview with Chesner, contact Sarah S. Mansell at manselss@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

ISLAM EXPERT AVAILABLE FOR COMMENT – Charles Kimball, professor and chair of religion, is an internationally known expert on Islam and the intersection of religion and politics. He is available to talk about the religious issues raised by the United States’ ongoing presence in the Middle East. Kimball is the author of the award-winning 2002 book “When Religion Becomes Evil.” To arrange an interview, contact Jacob McConnico at mcconnjn@wfu.edu or 336-758-5237.

Categories: Community, Research, Speakers