Vanderbilt has a campus broadcast facility with a dedicated fiber optic line for live TV interviews (615-322-2706), a radio ISDN line and a radio actuality line (615-322-NEWS).
American Foreign Policy, International Relations Thomas Schwartz, associate professor of history, can discuss America’s current foreign policy in regards to Iraq and Afghanistan. Schwartz, a presidential historian, has done extensive research on the making of American foreign policy, the interaction of domestic and foreign policy interests, and the role of alliance politics in U.S. foreign policy. He is the author of "Lyndon Johnson and Europe: In the Shadow of Vietnam" (Harvard 2003), and he is working on a biography of former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.
News Service: 615-322-2706
thomas.a.schwartz@vanderbilt.edu _____
Smallpox, Biological Weapons, Infectious Diseases William Schaffner, professor and chairman of the department of preventive medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, can discuss the different types of biological agents, how they could possibly be used as weapons, their effects on the human body, and treatments and preventions for them. Schaffner is a member of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and a consultant with the Tennessee Department of Health on issues of public health, including biological weapons. He is the infection control officer for Vanderbilt University Hospital. He has more than 30 years of public health experience and is considered by his peers across the nation as a leader in the field.
Medical Center News and Public Affairs: 615-322-4747
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Foreign Policy, International Conflict, Middle East, U.S./Israeli Relations, Terrorism James Ray, professor of political science, has written about American foreign policy in the Middle East and terrorism. He teaches a course on international law and organization that looks at current issues regarding human rights protection, international aggression, holding world leaders accountable and the role of the U.N. in international crises. He also teaches courses on international conflict and American foreign policy, and is writing a book about the latter. A previous book, "Global Politics," is a comprehensive review of issues in international politics.
News Service: 615-322-2706
james.l.ray@vanderbilt.edu _____
American Children of War, Department of Defense Schools Claire Smrekar, associate professor of public policy and education, can discuss how children of American military cope when their mothers and fathers are deployed. Not only do the children cope, but schools operated by the DOD score higher on national reading and writing tests than public schools, according to Smrekar's research. She is currently working on a paper focusing on social networks and support systems and student success at a base school. She has written two books and numerous papers on education and received her doctorate degree from Stanford.
News Service: 615-322-2706
Claire.smrekar@vanderbilt.edu Smrekar's Bio_____
Psychological Effects of War on Troops and their Families Dr. Paul Ragan, assistant professor of psychiatry, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, was a U.S. Navy psychiatrist during the Gulf War and served with occupational forces in Kuwait City, treating troops for post-traumatic stress disorder. He can comment on what kinds of stressors troops will likely encounter, what will affect them and how, both acutely and over the long term. He can also address the stress and fears of families left behind.
Medical Center News and Public Affairs: 615-322-4747
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Psychological Effects of War in Afghanistan, Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Karen Starr, R.N., Lt. Col. in the U.S. Army Reserves, runs the psychology clinic for the Vanderbilt Transplant Center and has spent active duty time treating troops of the 101st Airborne Division at Ft. Campbell as they returned from the war in Afghanistan. "Apparently, it's a lot bloodier in Afghanistan than we were led to believe," she said.
Medical Center News and Public Affairs: 615-322-4747
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Middle East, Arab-American Muslims Samar Ali, law student and former Student Government Association (SGA) president, can discuss what it's like being an Arab-American Muslim during these difficult times and how the aftermath of the war with Iraq is viewed by people living in the Middle East from a personal perspective. Vanderbilt students elected Ali as the first Arab-American Muslim SGA president not long after Sept. 11. Samar was born and raised in Waverly, Tenn., where both of her parents are physicians. Her mother, Dr. Maysoon Shuqair-Ali, is from Syria and her father, Dr. Subhi Ali, is Palestinian and, at one time, lived in Ramallah. Samar's grandfather, Dr. Abdel Rahman Shuqair, is a prominent Arab living in Jordan.
News Service: 615-322-2706
Article on Ali, download as a .pdf _____
Influencing the Enemy, Public Diplomacy and Media During War, Role of Media in Arab Countries Michael Schoenfeld, vice chancellor for public affairs, served as Voice of America chief of staff during the Gulf War, and can discuss how governments try to influence the enemy and their allies, the impact and role of media in Arab countries and public diplomacy and media during war. At Voice of America, Schoenfeld served as liaison to the State Department, the National Security Council and presidential task forces on international broadcasting and public diplomacy. Before becoming Vanderbilt's first vice chancellor for media relations, he was senior vice president for policy and public affairs at the Corporation for Public Broadcasting in Washington, D.C.
News Service: 615-322-2706
Schoenfeld Bio _____
North Korea, Japan, East Asian Defense Policies James Auer, director of the Center for U.S. Japan Studies at Vanderbilt, retired naval commander, can discuss North Korea's military threats to Japan and the U.S. Auer was stationed in Japan and the Western Pacific during his naval career and was the former special assistant for Japan with the office of the secretary of defense. He has written numerous articles and made a number of presentations addressing East Asian security and defense policies. He is the coauthor of "The Maritime Basis of American Security in East Asia" in the Naval War College Review.
Phone: 615-343-6980, News Service: 615-322-2706
james.e.auer@vanderbilt.edu Center for US-Japan Studies and Cooperation _____
War's Impact on Oil Prices, Economy David Parsley, associate professor of economics, Owen Graduate School of Management, can discuss war's impact on oil prices and how that affects the economy. Parsley's teaching and research interests are in the areas of international business, finance and global monetary systems.
Phone: 615-322-0649, News Service: 615-322-2706
david.parsley@owen.vanderbilt.edu Parsley Bio _____
Health Effects of Nuclear Fallout and Long-term Radiation Exposure, Potential Health Effects of "Dirty Bombs" John Boice, Ph.D., professor of medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, scientific director, International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, Md., has studied nuclear fallout in Chernobyl and has written extensively on the health effects of nuclear and other radiation exposures in groups of people over time. He can discuss the potential late health effects of the use of "dirty bombs" or nuclear weapons, both from fallout and from direct exposure. Has an international presence as a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and the United National Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation.
Medical Center News and Public Affairs: 615-322-4747
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Peace Movements, Anti-War and Religion James Hudnut-Beumler, dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School and Anne Potter Wilson Distinguished Professor of American Religious History, can provide historical context for peace movements. He says such movements can change government policy, but only in conjunction with other events that help policy makers recalculate earlier opinions about a course of action. In his book "Looking for God in the Suburbs" he discussed the Vietnam War protests and the Civil Rights movement.
Vanderbilt News Service: 615-322-6397
james.hudnut-beumler@vanderbilt.edu _____
Pacifism, Anti-War Movements, Religion J. Patout Burns, Edward A. Malloy Professor of Catholic Studies, can provide background on the restrictions Christianity and Islam have imposed on the use of force through their theories of justifiable warfare. He can also provide information about the pacifist Christian tradition and the quietist Islamic tradition, each of which asserts that their adherents do not have the authority to undertake warfare. He edited "War and Its Discontents: Pacifism and Quietism in Abrahamic Traditions."
Vanderbilt News Service: 615-322-6397
james.p.burns@vanderbilt.edu _____
America and War, Religion James P. Byrd, assistant dean of Vanderbilt Divinity School and Senior Lecturer in American Religious History, is an expert on religion and war in American history. He can provide information about the various functions of religion in war, how religious groups respond to war, religious motivations for war, and the ways in which religion and war shape understandings of American and its place in the world. He teaches the course "Religion and War in American History."
Vanderbilt News Service: 615-322-6397
Updated: December 17, 2003
