Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies co-sponsors symposium

With weapons of biological and chemical terrorism in the headlines and firmly on the nation�s public agenda, political leaders, physicians, research scientists and law enforcement and intelligence experts will meet Feb. 16 and 17 in Arlington, Va., to talk about what to do should bioterrorists launch an assault on civilians in the United States. Donna Shalala, secretary of health and human services, will give the keynote address.

"This is a timely and urgent agenda," says D.A. Henderson, director of the new Hopkins Center for Civilian Biodefense Studies, a co-sponsor of the symposium, and the person credited with leading the World Health Organization's successful fight to eradicate smallpox from the world.
Henderson says the point of the symposium is not to look for quick fixes but to marshal the expertise of public health officials, government officials, intelligence specialists and others in the development of practical long- and short-term anti-terrorist strategies and measures.
Hopkins' CCBS, established last year, intends to play a key role in developing national and international policies for dealing with the threat of biological weapons, according to Tara O'Toole, CCBS senior fellow and former assistant secretary of energy. "The center's focus will be on those biological weapons that pose the greatest threat to civilian populations, including anthrax, smallpox, plague and viral hemorrhagic fevers, diseases that could cause unthinkable numbers of casualties," she said.

Summer Programs features expanded course offerings

An expanded summer session offers Hopkins students, visiting undergraduates and pre-college students an opportunity to take courses in the schools of Arts and Sciences and Engineering during two five-week terms, June 1 to July 2 and July 6 to Aug. 6. The compact courses will provide full credit for undergraduate offerings in the humanities, sciences, social sciences and engineering. The session will also offer an intensive English course for those whose first language is not English.
Participants in the pre-college program, who may choose the residential or commuter option, are offered courses in one of eight programs: Medical Science, Computer Applications, American Government/ Pre-Law, Humanities, International Relations, Earth and the Cosmos, College Preview and Intensive English Language (non-credit).

A list of courses and applications are available on the Web at www.jhu.edu summer. Catalogs can be found at the Office of Summer Programs, 102 Macaulay Hall, Homewood. JHU students may obtain materials from the Office of the Registrar, 75 Garland Hall, after March 22.

Blue Jays lacrosse tickets are now available for faculty, staff

Tickets for the Blue Jays' 1999 lacrosse season are now available. To receive two complimentary season passes, faculty and staff members should bring a valid university I.D. to the main office in the Athletic Center between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. All full-time students get free admission by showing their JCards at the gate.