Posted on Friday, September 10, 2021
In 2000, Political Science Professor Dr. John Tures was working as an analyst for a Washington, D.C., company that provided information to federal governmental agencies. His area of expertise was terrorism and homeland security.
What he learned from his research would haunt him, he said in a 2002 interview.
“I used to go to bed very fearful on the days we worked on homeland security. We knew it was a matter of ‘when,’ and not ‘if.’”
That “when” came on Sept. 11, 2001, just two months after Dr. Tures joined LC’s faculty, when terrorists highjacked commercial airplanes and attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. A fourth plane was downed in rural Pennsylvania.
After the first plane hit the World Trade Center, Dr. Tures and his colleagues gathered in the hallway of the Callaway Academic Building to discuss what was happening.
“We debated about whether it was an accident or not,” he said. “Someone noted how a B-25 once crashed into the Empire State Building. When the second plane hit, I said, ‘Does anyone think it was anything other than terrorism now?’”
Later in the day, the college hosted a prayer vigil on the Murphy Academic Quad and a candlelight service at the Chapel. And Dr. Tures became a leading authority on terrorism in the community.
“It seemed like every night after 9/11, I was speaking before a church or civic group or in a school auditorium, just trying to tell them what I knew was going on, and what we could expect,” he said, “It was quite a way to get introduced to the local community.”
Now, 20 years later, Dr. Tures reflects on the end of the war in Afghanistan as the anniversary of 9/11 nears.
“Watching Afghanistan collapse is pretty tough,” he said. “Most of us hoped to have a more stable Afghanistan replace the terrorism-supporting Taliban. We planted a seed, a better life, a better way, in an area that never knew anything other than monarchy, communism and Taliban rule.
“It may not be today or tomorrow, but you may find in the future that a Taliban (who will discover it is harder to actually govern than destroy a government) will find itself confronted by people who know a better way.”
America now takes terrorism more seriously and is more security conscience. But were lasting lessons learned?
“Just a few years ago, a Muslim ban was pushed that exempted most, if not all, of the countries where the 9/11 hijackers came from,” he said. “We will fail if we fail to learn the lessons of what really happened and to not “weaponize” the legacy of 9/11 for political gain.”
A 9/11 Remembrance Service will be held today at 12:30 p.m. in the Chapel. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11th, 2001, terror attacks. Meet at the Chapel for a time of silence, scripture and remembrance. The gathering will release in time for 1 p.m. classes.
Also, a reminder that the Chapel is open every day of the semester for personal prayer and devotion.
Chaplain Adam Roberts is available to meet one-on-one for prayer, counseling and spiritual direction. For in-person meetings (limited availability), check in on the second floor of Smith Hall to meet in his office, Smith 228. One-on-one meetings are also available via Microsoft Teams. For more information, contact Roberts at aroberts@vko29.com.
The college’s Political Science Alpha Alpha Nu chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha has been awarded the Pi Sigma Alpha Best Chapter Award for 2020-2021. It was one of only three that were awarded to chapters in schools with undergraduate enrollment below 5,000. Tanya B. Schwarz, Executive Director of Pi Sigma Alpha, wrote, “I was especially impressed by the chapter’s development of a virtual model UN simulation for high school students, as well as the chapter’s obvious commitment to excellence in undergraduate research.”
The Price Theater box office will open (online only) Wednesday for Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap.” The show will run Sept. 23-26, with curtain at 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and a matinee at 2 p.m. Sunday. In keeping with Broadway and Actors Equity health and safety standards, all audience members must show proof of vaccination upon entering Price Theater, and wear masks in the theater at all times. To make reservations, contact priceboxoffice@vko29.com.
Dr. John Tures, Professor of Political Science, had his piece “Presidents declare more disasters during reelection years – and the decisions come faster” published in Yahoo News, the Houston Chronicle, San Antonio Express-News, Buffalo News and dozens of other newspapers. It covers the struggle of Newnan residents to deal with FEMA in the tornado aftermath.
http://news.yahoo.com/presidents-declare-more-disasters-during-122649762.html
Remember that Homecoming 2021 will be Oct. 29-31. Check here for more information.
The ringing of the Chapel Bell is a new tradition at LaGrange College, an opportunity only afforded to graduating senior students. If you are a senior student, celebrating either your first full-time, post-graduation job offer or admission to graduate school, you can announce your accomplishments to the college by ringing the bell. Complete the form online using this link and you will be sent instructions on how to ring the bell. Additionally, Panther Bites will announce all students who ring the Chapel Bell. If you are accepted into more than one graduate program, you can ring the bell for each acceptance. Please note that the ringing of the Chapel Bell will only occur from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. weekdays when the college is open. Feel free to post videos to all our social media outlets and share with family and friends. Use the hashtag #LCSoundofSuccess.
Check LC Connect for instructions and links to Virtual CE events. For in-person events, all COVID guidelines apply.
THROUGH OCT. 1
LC Young Alumni Virtual Interview – Lauren Gann ’12
Gann is the donor relations coordinator with the Tanner Foundation in Carrollton.
TUESDAY
May Away Course: Springtime in Paris
11:15 a.m., Room 104, Callaway Science Building
THURSDAY
Constitution Day Talk: Troup County Solicitor Sandra Heath Taylor
11:15 a.m., Corn Auditorium, Lewis Library
Come out, be loud and wear red to support the LaGrange College football team in its home opener Saturday against Berry at 2 p.m. in Callaway Stadium. The Panther Walk will be at 12:25 p.m. This will be the first Panther home football game since Nov. 16, 2019.
Drew Cantrell ’17 has been named Head Men’s and Women’s Tennis Coach. He was a four-year member of the Panther tennis program from 2014-17. Read more here.
Men’s Soccer
Junior midfielder Blake Webb scored with 1:32 remaining to give LaGrange (1-0) a 3-2 season opening win at Pensacola Christian last Saturday. Senior Asher Hendon and freshman William Perry also scored goals for the Panthers.
Football
Birmingham-Southern downed LaGrange (0-1) 42-17 in the season opener for both teams last Saturday in Birmingham, Alabama. The quarterback tandem of junior Shedrick Lindsey and Damione Ward combined for 291 yards and two touchdowns for the Panthers. Sophomore tight end De’Queze Fryer had five receptions for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Women’s Soccer
LaGrange (0-1) lost its season opener 3-1 at Oglethorpe last Sunday. Senior midfielder Sydney Dailey scored an unassisted goal for the Panthers. Goalkeeper Maurie White had nine saves.
Volleyball
LaGrange went 0-3 at the Emory Invitational to open its season last Friday and Saturday. Junior setter Kirsten Boyd had 26 kills, 54 assists and 46 digs in the three matches. In a 3-2 loss to Brevard, Boyd had a triple double of 16 kills, 21 assists and 16 digs.
Cross Country
The LaGrange cross country teams opened their season at the Foothills Invitational in Oxford, Alabama, last Friday. Senior Holly Moreland led the women with a time of 20:04.2 over the 4K course. For the men, freshman Joseph Grubbs had a time of 17:19.1 over the 5K course, finishing 52nd out of 119 runners.
Calendar Today (Friday)
Volleyball vs. Millsaps, noon, and vs. Oglethorpe at 5 p.m. at Stormy Petrel Classic
Saturday
Cross Country at Huntingdon Season Opener, 10 a.m.
Volleyball vs Averett, 12 p.m. at Stormy Petrel Classic
Football vs Berry, 2 p.m., Callaway Stadium
Sunday
Men’s Soccer at Piedmont, 2 p.m.
Monday-Tuesday
Golf at Rhodes College Fall Classic
Senior theatre major Erielle Robinson explains why wearing a mask indoors is important to her.
President Baxter updates Lions Club on LaGrange College – LaGrange Daily News, Sept. 1, 2021
Category: Students, Faculty, Academics, Community, Events, College
Keywords: 9/11 Tures terrorism
