A CALL TO DEFEND

Recognizing this university's role as a national leader in terrorism and defense studies since 9/11, Gov. Martin O'Malley and Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano spoke to members of the university community yesterday about security issues from the university to the federal level.

More than 150 people packed into the Stamp Student Union's Prince George's Room to listen to the officials discuss the threat of terrorism and improvements to national protection since Sept. 11, 2001. After answering questions about security in a post-9/11 world and improvements to homeland security in a tight economic climate, Napolitano and O'Malley called on students to join the effort to increase state and federal protection.

Napolitano heralded the university's efforts toward combating terrorism — including implementation of the university's START program, a terrorism and counterterrorism research center — and encouraged students to enter the homeland security field upon graduation.

"I would just continue to encourage … students to stay in this field; it's not going away," Napolitano said. "Your country needs you and the public service you can provide, and the talents you can supply are ever so important in this era of ever-evolving threats."

Addressing the audience directly, O'Malley told students that developing an efficient national security team begins in the classroom.

"Homeland security is probably one of the newest fields in academics, but among the fields it is one of the most important," he said at the event.

Napolitano also stressed the importance of strong local security, which in turn will lead to a well-coordinated national homeland security team, she said.

"Homeland security really has to begin with hometown security," Napolitano said. "We know that … local law enforcement must be quick to respond and proceed to a wide variety of potential threats."

START Director Gary LaFree moderated the discussion and included questions students sent in before the forum. President Wallace Loh, Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Montgomery and Prince George's), University Police Chief David Mitchell and a slew of other university administrators attended the event.

Loh said by engaging in direct conversation with government officials, members of the university community could better understand the serious issues at hand and how to aid in efforts to improve national security.

"It's one thing to read about [homeland security] in textbooks or in the newspaper, but it's another to actually be present in this kind of an informal conversation that brings these issues to life," Loh said after the event. "I think this is one of the great advantages of being where we are because we have access not only to the governor, but to top federal officials on one of the critical issues of debate."

Mitchell said it was important for students to understand issues related to homeland security because a safe community — and nation — has to be a combined effort between residents and officials.

"We're all in this together," Mitchell said after the event. "There are many facets to homeland security, so this is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to work together."

Students at the event said hearing about security issues directly from federal officials encouraged them to continue working toward careers in homeland security and cybersecurity.

"It's great because the University of Maryland participates in START and the whole business of homeland security, so it's great that they're speaking directly to us," sophomore history major and terrorism studies minor Weimin Chen said. "It gives us opportunities and something to think about for our careers and the field of homeland security."

Other students said because of this university's efforts to improve protection and educate students about terrorism and security — including adding a terrorism studies minor — students are determined to become part of the homeland security effort.

"It's important to maintain the university, state and federal relationship because we depend on each other," sophomore government and politics major Olivia Zug said. "The state should invest in our university because we have so much to offer and we're always working."

abutaleb@umdbk.com