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NEWS
'. OCT. 16, 2003
5
Biodefense and law center collaborating with other disciplines
from the Centerfor Biodefense, Law and . medicine, forensic pathology, animal and
Public Policy.
food science and plant science comprise
One of the recommendations the the range offields represented by the facAmericans saw the anniversary of an
attack on the nation Oct. 15. Two years Task Force presented was the'formation ulty associated with the center.
d the Center'for Biodefense, Law and
Shannon said the collaboration is
3!;'J, a peooil in Sen. Tom Daschle's office opened a l~tter that released spdres ' Public Policy to address law and public the main idea behind the center.
'The main idea is that it is a onecianthrax. The spdreswent airborne and policy issues. Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Brian Shannon said the sropshcwingopportunity.Amajoruniinfected ~ple in the office.
versity can have a collaboratipn among
People at Texas Tech and in the city center was the first in the nation.
"We were the firSt to do this. An the sections with research and pull the
. ci Lubbock have been working hard to
make sure the community and region educational institution shouldn't be pieces together in case of a terroiism atcan be prepared in the event Ofa bio- static. Universities can get into the pat- tack," he said.
One way the university has tried to
logical attack. In September 2001, . tern of going with what's happened be- .'
Cllancellor Dr. David Smith appointed fore. This shows we're being responsive pull the pieces together is by running
the Task Force for Anti-Terrorism and and on the cutting edge," Shannon said. simulated events to see how ~ple reThe center's policies are br,ought spond, Provost William Marcy said. The
Public Security to determine how the
university could best fesp6nd to the re- about by a collaboration of many differ- events are a way to show how policy is'gion and the nation through Tech's re- ent colleges or\. campus. The disciplines sues play in established protocols.
"Tech ran a simulated event about '
search, education and community ser- of law, public policy, mass communicavice resources, according to information tions, political science, microbiology, two weeks 3!;'J. We went through the
By Andrew Bell/Staff Reporter
steps to see if the policy worked and
check any gaps in the protocol," Marcy
said. "If the real thing happens, nopefully the gaps will be closed." ,
The event was a simulation ofan ex. plosion and fire at University Avenue
and 19'h Street. Marcy said it was an ideal
location because the event would affect
the campus and the traffic flow. He explainedthe use of the center and simulated events are an indirect benefit.
'1bebenefi~ are indirect. Ifthe policies are in place and understood, the
people resp6nd and know where the
boundaries are. Without it, it diminishes
the effeCtiveness of the resp6nse," he
, said. .
Victoria Sutton, direCtor of thecenter and professor of law, said the Tech
School of Law has set the standard for
. which is impottant to state officials, legother universities in the nation. .
"We are one of two or three law islatures and individuals," he said. "It.
schools which has a center focused on helps to put the policies in some kind of
this subject.' Many more centers and forward discussion.The center can bring
courses will be coming around the na- about good 'policy decisions."
tion," Sutton said. "Texas Tech is on the
Shannon said the center is unique
cutting edge of the issue and a leader because it gives students the opportunity
among law schools."
to add their voices to the project.
Shannon said the center is a resource
"It is an open forum. It is an opporto assist local governments resp6nd to tunity for graduate and undergraduate
any bioterrorist attack.
students to have the opportunity to
"It is an information resource clear- shape policies," he said. "It is also a
inghouse to assist the state and local gov- chance for law students and other stuernment to respond to a'threat," he said. dents across dle spectrum to add their
Marcy'said the center helps bring voice."
forward discussion to make good policy
Marcy said the Office of the Provost
decisions, which are impottant to make provided the funding to get the program
sure the process would run smoothly in up and running, In about three years, he
the event of an attack.
said he believes the Center will be able
I'lt helps to delineate policy issues, to be Self-supportive through grants. .