Lee Papa, English professor, has organized Artists Resisting Terror (A.R.T.) to promote hope and resist terror worldwide by creating a forum for artists and writers to express their feelings.

The idea was sparked after Papa received an e-mail about the role of art and artists during tragedy.

The e-mail, an article written during World War II, emphasized the importance of art in the wake of terror.

"The free arts of stage and screen, music, dancing, literature and painting are the essence of the faith we are preparing to defend," said Winston Churchill in an article from the Jan. 26, 1941, edition of The New York Times.

"I began to realize that many writers wanted to express themselves and I thought it would be great to organize a place for writers and artists to present all of their responses," said Papa.

From there, A.R.T developed into a multi-university organization that supports using art and music to promote healing and hope for artists and the community while raising money to help the victims.

The organization is coordinating several arts-related benefit events on or near Oct. 11 with universities such as Tennessee Technical University, Roane State University, Tenn., and Palm Beach Community College, Fla.

For more information about A.R.T. and upcoming events, visit its Web site at www.artistsresistingterror.org.

By Jennifer Seal, Graduate Assistant

(NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information, contact Lee Papa by phone at (765) 285-8401 or by e-mail at lpapa@bsu.edu.)