An author and professor will visit Bradley to discuss the ways the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11 have changed the way our society is policed.
Professor of criminal justice and police studies from Eastern Kentucky University Vic Kappeler will present the speech “Policing in the post 9/11 Era: Continuing Conflicts Between Rights and Security.”
He plans to give specific historical reasons for the change in policing.
Associate professor of political science Craig Curtis said Kappeler is coming to Bradley for more than one reason.
“Last year when President Glasser was new, she met with each department … in this meeting we discussed the criminal justice program,” Curtis said. “The program needs to be revised. She recommended we speak with Vic Kappeler from Eastern Kentucky.”
They made an appointment to meet in the spring and Curtis said Kappeler also agreed to be a part of the department’s Current Issues Speaker Series.
“He’s coming to give advice on the criminal justice curriculum and help make it better,” Curtis said.“[And in his speech] he’s going to try to give a historical reason why policing has changed in post 9/11 America.”
Kappeler is widely published and according to Curtis he is a nationally recognized expert on policing.
“He has a history of being a critical thinker and questioning what the government tells us. I think scholars should think this way,” Curtis said.
He also said the extent of change since the terrorist attacks has been widespread. Specifically in the airports, people are expected to remove their belts, shoes and open their laptops.
“Every single police department has to react when the government changes the threat level,” Curtis said. “In major cities they adjust to protect landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. In airports that means stricter limitations on passengers.”
Kappeler’s speech will cover the reason for these changes from a historical perspective.
The event is open to the public and Curtis said he encourages everyone to attend even if their major does not relate to the topic.
“It is not just for criminal justice majors,” Curtis said. “The event is open to the public. His speech will be generally applicable and interesting to everybody.”
He stressed this is especially true because everyone in society is affected by police.
“9/11 changed the way we police our society and that affects everybody because we all interact with the police,” Curtis said.
Kappeler will speak 7 p.m. Thursday in Bradley Hall.
