Survey reports residents feel terrorism threat

When assessing the year since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, East Lansing resident Chris Gottschalk often finds himself keeping a slightly more watchful eye.

“You shouldn’t be paranoid, but by the same token you can’t think it can’t happen to you,” he said.

Gottschalk’s feelings were aligned with the majority of 230 Lansing-area adults who took part in an MSU study on post-Sept. 11 reflections. The research concluded that 72 percent of those surveyed believe that al-Qaida likely has many potential terrorists residing in the United States.

“My overall interpretation is that Lansing residents are edgy but less concerned about themselves personally,” said Bradley Greenberg, an MSU professor of communication and telecommunication, who conducted the survey with communication graduate student Ken Lachlan.

“They’re less concerned that the war on terrorism would affect them or their family, but they do believe another attack is likely in the near future - but not in Lansing,” Greenberg said, adding the survey was conducted over two days beginning on the one-year anniversary of the attacks.

Another finding was that 68 percent of those surveyed said the U.S. government should closely watch foreigners in the country.

But interdisciplinary humanities senior Heather Nedroscik said she doesn’t think the government should only scrutinize foreigners.

“There are other terrorist and fundamentalist groups who have the same potential to attack and might be more likely to attack in Lansing than other groups,” she said. “I think the government should watch people in general more closely.”

The survey showed 64 percent of those surveyed feel U.S. media have provided information that could be useful to potential terrorists. But Lachlan said last year’s coverage was appropriate.

One of the most interesting things the study revealed, Lachlan said, is the persistence of stress symptoms.

“There didn’t seem to be any drop-off of people feeling tense or stressed or scared,” he said. “People still worry about personal safety, and there is a sense of uncertainty.”

In the study, 25 percent of those surveyed said they cried more during the past year than before the attacks and 59 percent reported donating money or time to an organization or cause.

Greenberg admitted that he “was a bit surprised by how much of a majority did such a selfless act.”

Megan Frye can be reached at fryemega@msu.edu.