Arthur Goldschmidt, professor of history, was supposed to teach a Semester at Sea program this spring. An expert in Middle Eastern studies, Goldschmidt could have provided insight on the Persian Gulf War to seafaring students.

But because of the war, the program cancelled visits to Middle Eastern ports, and Goldschmidt, who had taken a sabbatical from the University to participate, was left behind in State College. Although he has been a top source for local newspapers and programs, Goldschmidt said it is unfortunate that he is not teaching any classes here.

However, professors that are teaching on campus are doing what they can to bring the war into the classroom.

Simon Duke, assistant professor of political science, said he leaves 10 minutes at the end of each class for discussion about the war.

"If I let it go on, we could probably spend a whole class period talking about the war," Duke said, adding that his students have remained interested throughout the semester.

Though Duke said he would like to see the conflict resolved soon, he admitted it has helped his course in that he has been able to apply historical theories and strategy to today. What can be "dry and archaic" material has become relevant to the situation in the gulf, he said.

In his course on national security, Political Science 438, Duke addresses strategies and weapon systems. In his course on Western European foreign policy, Political Science 466, he discusses how allied coalition members view the war. Duke said students are interested in more than just the United States' reaction to the situation.

In her Economics 333 class on international trade policy, Maureen Kilkenny, assistant professor of economics, has assigned readings dealing with eco nomic sanctions. Students have analyzed economists' opinions and discussed the history and success of sanctions and speculated on the impact of the sanctions on Iraq, said Kilkenny. But, she admitted, student interest in the gulf situation has decreased.

For most students, though they can discuss the situation in the Middle East, it remains a distant war. But for others, like students in the ROTC program, it hits home.

Capt. Gerard Kuchinsky, an assistant professor of aerospace studies, teaches courses on leadership, management and communications in the military. He said he tries to deal with those three areas in relation to the situation in the gulf.

He said discussions in his classes may be somewhat different than those in classes not in the ROTC program because his students are training to be military officers.

"We discuss (the war) the same way, but it hits home perhaps a little bit more," Kuchinsky said.

Also, at Commonwealth campuses, professors have been encouraging students to remain aware of the war by including discussion in their classes.

Jack Susskind, assistant professor of social science and education at Capital College in Harrisburg, said he has addressed the ramifications of the war in his course on social and cultural factors in education.

Students are very interested in the war and how it is affecting people on the homefront, Susskind said. He said several of his students have loved ones stationed in the gulf.

Susskind recognized the importance of demonstrating the complexity of the situation to students, adding that the war could affect everything -- religion, engineering, economics, business.

Goldschmidt stressed the importance of staying in tune with the events in the gulf. He said he recognizes the value of discussing the war in the classroom as long as professors can speak knowledgeably and comfortably about it. But, Goldschmidt said, it is not always necessary to link class material with the gulf.

"There are other ways for students to inform themselves. . . CNN, the Collegian and national newspapers," GoldSchmidt said.