Saint Louis University students heard from someone with
first-hand experience what could have been done and what the United
States is doing to prevent another Sept. 11.

New SLU professor John J. Goglia, former member of the National
Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), spoke to students in Carlo
Auditorium on Sept. 16 about the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in
“Life After 9/11: A Back Porch Conversation.” The presentation is
part of the Parks College Colloquium Series.

Goglia, who joined the SLU faculty in July, served with the NTSB
for nine years, after being appointed by President Clinton. He now
serves as a professor of aviation science in Parks College of
Engineering, Aviation and Technology while maintaining an office in
Washington, D.C.

Parks dean Bjong “Wolf” Yeigh, Ph.D., introduced Goglia as “a
renowned expert in safety” to the audience.

Goglia started off the event by highlighting the importance of
the NTSB.

“Everything we do changed on Sept. 11,” he said. Goglia went on
to state that the FBI and New York Police Dept. had and still have
no expertise in going through accident wreckage to search for facts
and clues. He also mentioned the 70 NTSB members who were going
through every piece of debris at the World Trade Center site to try
and find the flight data recorders of the doomed flights. However,
he said the NTSB’s work was essential in determining many changes
that can be made.

A good deal of Goglia’s speech dealt with how the airlines will
have to cope with the competing demands of increased security and
customer satisfaction in order to save the financially struggling
business. He made special mention of the “trusted traveler”
program, which is on a trial basis in selected cities nationwide,
and of which Goglia is himself a member. The program would involve
frequent travelers being able to submit to fingerprinting and eye
scanning as a means of circumventing long lines at baggage counters
and security checks.

Goglia also touched on the sensitive topic of racial profiling
at airports. He said that he was against it, “but it’s something we
may have to do in the future.”

With the presentation being a “back porch conversation,” Goglia
fielded questions from the audience, many having to do with
homeland security.

Goglia said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will
become more and more powerful as time goes on. When asked what he
thought about many measures the DHS is taking to increase security,
Goglia seemed less than enthusiastic.

“I don’t like what I’m hearing about ‘big brother,'” he said. He
made special mention of technology that will allow the government
to track automobiles by satellite. While it would have benefits,
such as tracking criminals, Goglia said that he did not like the
precedent that it would set.

He also said that security around and on trains that carry
hazardous chemicals needs to be increased.

Goglia told the audience that “the debate is not over with these
issues.” He said that Americans need to think about what this
nation was founded on and what is most important to people.

“We are more vulnerable because of our freedoms,” he said.