For a university to maintain its credibility in the world of academia, it must address current events and set up an environment that is conducive to its student body to learn about these important issues.

Learning and knowledge never end. They change and expand with each important issue, scientific discovery and social trend. Those universities that do not realize this will be left behind, teaching their students what social critic Eric Hoffer calls, “a world that no longer exists.”

Fortunately, NIU understands this important concept by introducing a class on political violence and political terrorism to begin in the spring semester. The course will seek to answer the question: “Is one man’s terrorist another man’s freedom fighter?” in addition to finding out the purpose of terrorism and the methods involved in terrorists’ actions.

This is indeed a positive step for NIU. The administration has seen that one of the biggest issues America faces in this new millennium is terrorism. We have seen just how serious an issue this is with the Sept. 11 attacks and the subsequent attacks involving anthrax.

The administration should be commended. It is essential that the future leaders and citizens currently in academia have the opportunity to learn about what the aspects of this issue are, and more importantly, the why behind it.

If our universities and other learning institutions do not address this important issue, academia will deprive students of the very thing it promises to present: knowledge that is compatible with the world the student will inherit upon graduation.