We've redesigned onCampus

Welcome to the first redesign of onCampus in almost a decade. As you can see, the Memos -- a page- two staple -- have moved. That page now mirrors the Calendar, so you can find all of your events news and notices in the same location.

At right, you'll find another new feature: a table of contents. Look in this space on every publication date for guidance to your favorite onCampus features.

A few other changes: Discoveries, our renamed Research page, will hold a spot on page five, and we are introducing a Forum page, on which we'll publish guest columns and letters to the editor.

Terrorism will demand new government responses

While the federal government may focus on military reactions to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the best response may be more akin to police work, according to a national security expert at Ohio State.

"Dealing with terrorists is more of a police problem than a military problem," said John Mueller, a professor of political science and the Woody Hayes Chair of National Security Studies at Ohio State's Mershon Center.

"The United States can't just declare war or bomb something to deal with these terrorists. There has to be surveillance, infiltration of groups, information gathering and the arrest of those responsible."

Mueller said the terrorist attack comes at a time in history when there is a general decline in traditional warfare between countries. Most wars today are really the acts of criminal groups who use warfare to enrich themselves. These criminal wars, as well as terrorism, will force the United States and other countries to adopt different strategies -- outside of the traditional military -- to protect themselves.

Mueller discussed the decline of traditional war and the rise of criminal warfare in a presentation earlier this month in San Francisco at the annual meeting of the American Political Science Association. He said the war in the former Yugoslavia is a good example of the new type of criminal warfare.

"While many people said this was an ethnic war, it was far from being an expression of deep and long-standing hatred among neighbors," he said. "The perpetrators used ethnic and nationalistic rhetoric, but they were really criminals acting as mercenaries under the direction of weak and desperate political leaders."

Other wars, such as those in Africa during recent years, are essentially violent conflicts conducted by warlords and bandit gangs.

"Where government is weak, crime tends to surge and in some cases, the crime will require substantial organization, and so will look like war," he said.

At the same time, conventional war -- war between disciplined armies representing developed countries -- has declined because of changing attitudes and beliefs. The two world wars discredited the notion that war was beneficial to nations, and left many citizens unwilling to go to war.

"This process has roughly followed the pattern by which the ancient and formidable institution of slavery became discredited and then obsolete," Mueller explained.

As a result, the remaining major sources of international violence are criminal warfare and terrorism. And while these two types of violence are different in some ways, they both require a similar response, Mueller explained.

"We need to deal with terrorists and criminal warriors through police work, not military action," he said. "Controlling them will require patient, dreary, endless, routine and often frustrating police work, not warfare."

Moreover, Americans must accept the fact that there will never be a decisive victory over terrorists and criminal warriors as there were over traditional armies, Mueller said.

"There are no decisive victories to police work," he said. "Wars may end, but policing never does."

Ohio State responds to Sept. 11; readers encouraged to share their events

The beginning of this academic year was like no other at Ohio State. Since Sept. 11, faculty, staff and students have gathered in a number of ways to share their grief, support one another, participate in academic discourse, recognize tolerance and commit to healing.

In the aftermath of the attacks, President Brit Kirwan issued statements to the University, expressing sympathy, noting security measures on campus and the availability of counseling, and reminding the community that Ohio State is an institution that values diversity and is no place for racial or ethnic stereotyping. Kirwan continued to speak to and on behalf of the University in the following days. The remarks he made at the Sept. 19 Candlelight Vigil are published on page six.

That vigil (see page one) was the second large community gathering on the campus. On Sept. 15, more than 15,000 area residents paid homage to the victims of the tragedy at a rally and telethon in Ohio Stadium. The rally was held in lieu of the football game against San Diego State, which has been postponed until Oct. 20.

Other gatherings have peppered the University calendar in recent days, including two events on Sept. 20: a panel discussion at the College of Law about the legal aspects of the terrorist attack, and a University teach-in examining "When Terrorism Comes Home." A Sept. 26 panel discussion about Afghanistan also was scheduled.

For those instructors seeking guidance on addressing the national crisis, Faculty and TA Development posted a Web site prominently featuring suggestions for faculty on how best to approach class discussions concerning the terrorism attacks.

A number of faculty shared their expertise on issues related to the attack on America (see story, above).

Recognizing that many new and returning students likely were affected by the tragedy and the subsequent travel difficulties, officials contacted students via e-mail to convey that their residential, financial aid and class scheduling needs would be met in the event of their delay.

An Ohio Union and Student Activities-sponsored blood drive was held on Sept. 23, and another, hosted by the University Medical Center, will take place from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Nov. 9 in the Rhodes Hall Auditorium Lobby. An October blood drive is already booked solid.

Students, faculty and staff created more than 100,000 white ribbons available for a $1 donation. As of Sept. 24, the campaign had raised $13,000.

We invite readers to share notices about upcoming fund-raising and/or support activities, or to report the results of their own fund-raisers. Submit information to Susan Wittstock at wittstock.3@osu.edu or by fax to 292-1861.