Counterterrorism and GILEE: the Atlanta '96 Olympics to Today What Is the Georgia State University Foundation?
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6 NEWS GEORGIASTATESIGNAL.COM SGA investigative committee meeting. Counterterrorism and However, GILEE’s assistance in security efforts have been productive. They GILEE: the Atlanta ‘96 provided training for the 2008 Beijing and “GILEE’s goal is to the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games — both of which were free from attack. Ahead of the provide peer-to- Olympics to today 2016 Games, Rio police arrested eight for a peer professional plot to bomb the Rio Games, according to training through the the BBC. BEN COLETTA “Following the September 11 terrorist introduction of best Associate News Editor atrocity, GILEE focuses on enhancing practices in order homeland security efforts through international cooperation and training to enhance agency ILEE was established in 1992 to programs,” the GILEE website states. capabilities to better provide counterterrorism training “GILEE’s goal is to provide peer-to- deal with threats G for police officers in preparation peer professional training through the for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. introduction of best practices in order to to public safety and But students in the past have questioned enhance agency capabilities to better deal improve security.” GILEE’s effectiveness – since there was in with threats to public safety and improve fact a terrorist attack at the Atlanta games. s e c u r it y.” Since its inception, a focus on GILEE is fairly popular in the law GILEE Website counterterrorism and preparedness has enforcement community, according to been emphasized for its American trainees. the list of awards and honors on their In an effort to improve homeland security, website. Director of the Georgia Bureau GILEE works with international partners, of Investigation Vernon Keenan, who exchanging American expertise in areas attended the first GILEE delegation like violent crime, community policing and to Israel, validates this: “The GILEE urban policing. program greatly enhances the professional On July 27, 1996, a bomb went off in development of Georgia law enforcement.” Centennial Olympic Park, killing one and The Georgia Sheriffs Association injuring 111. The bomb was planted by also calls the program one of the most domestic terrorist Eric Rudolph and would beneficial training programs available to be his first of four bombings between 1996 sheriff’s offices in Georgia. The association and 1998. has even disputed claims about GILEE Richard Jewell, a security guard, spotted targeting specific minority groups. the bomb and evacuated the area, limiting “The Association rejects all claims that the loss of life to one. However, after the these professional training exchanges bombing, Jewell was accused of being the include exercises of instruction relative attacker and later sued the AJC and other to tactical or military operations designed media organizations for libel. In October to oppress minority populations or 1996, Jewell was exonerated by the FBI. other specific groups,” the association The disorganization and lack of direction stated. “Accusations that these valuable of the investigation — specifically the international training exchanges lead to accusation against Jewell — as well as the deadly encounters in the United States are failure to prevent the terrorist attack in the fallacious and slanderous.” first place continue to fuel the argument GILEE is the only non-law enforcement against GILEE and questions over its agency to receive the governor’s Public effectiveness. Safety Award. It has also received awards “I would suspect they failed because for working with the Drug Enforcement they were too busy training our officers to Administration and the FBI, as well as The 1996 summer Olympic Games in Atlanta ran right PHOTOS FROM SIGNAL ARCHIVES look out for Arabs or Muslims, instead of the Israeli police commissioner and the through Georgia State’s campus. GILEE was created the real threat of right-wing extremists,” National Organization of Black Law in preparation for the event and has provided security Attorney Edward Mitchell said during the Enforcement Executives. training for several Olympic events since then. GILEE is funded entirely through private through program services, such as leasing donations are used to expand research What is the Georgia State donations made to the foundation and law and renting income, and $38 million in opportunities and improve the classroom enforcement agencies, according to Robert investment income, for a total revenue of environment by attracting and retaining University Foundation? Friedmann, GILEE’s founding director. $82 million. world class faculty. “Only foundation funding that has In the tax documents, the foundation Due to how broad the expenditure been given specifically for GILEE is describes three broad categories of support categories are, the specific expenses that ROSS MCWATERS used for GILEE,” Andrea Jones, associate for the school. the foundation covers, programs they fund Staff Reporter vice president for public relations at the The first category is program support. or departments they contribute to aren’t university, said. At $35 million in 2017, it constitutes the named. But the foundation’s role at Georgia State largest share of support, which is dedicated In 2017, there are three specific is much broader than GILEE — throughout to the university’s education, facilities, contractors the foundation paid. They were uition, fees and state support fund Georgia State. But these only the fiscal years 2012-16, the foundation activities and programs. The funds contracted for real estate and construction cover two-thirds of the school’s averaged $32.8 million a year in gifts to use specifically provide space and technology on Georgia State’s campus, including T toward university needs. for teaching, learning and research. renovations and maintenance of buildings expenses. What fills that last one-third? The Georgia State University Foundation. However, the foundation isn’t funded by The second is student support. and classrooms. The foundation is a tax-exempt, non- charitable donations alone. According to its This applies to merit- and need-based Within the foundation, there are only profit organization that helps fund Georgia 990 tax form for 2017, the foundation has scholarships provided by the university. four paid employees on the document: State, taking in millions of dollars of several methods for gaining revenue, which It also aids efforts to manage tuition costs President Walter Massey; Assistant revenue each year, primarily through tax- are divided into four categories: donations, and debt loads. The foundation granted $7 Treasurer and CFO Dale Palmer; Assistant deductible donations. Charitable donations program services, investment income and a million for these programs. Secretary Adrienne Veal and Comptroller to the school are also given through the miscellaneous category. The third is faculty and staff support, Mildred Begitschke. In 2017, the foundation, which it then distributes the In 2017, the foundation earned $26 with $4 million, some of which goes foundation paid a little more than $600,000 funds to Georgia State’s needs. million through donations, $18 million towards increasing faculty salaries. The for their four salaries combined. .