For several weeks now, the national media has lambasted the current generation of college students for their relative lack of concern for the events in Kosovo.

Candlelight vigils and letters to the editors of campus papers, they write, pale in comparison to the anti-war protests of the Vietnam era.

But instead of voicing their opinions in protests and demonstrations, professors say their students are bringing their concerns to class.

"A surprising number of undergrads in [my course] have raised Kosovo in conversations with me, " wrote Associate Professor of Government Andrew M. Moravcsik in an e-mail. Moravcsik teaches Historical Studies A-12, "International Conflicts in the Modern World" with Kaneb Professor of National Security and Military Affairs Stephen P. Rosen '74.

Moravcsik says one goal of Historical Studies A-12 is to teach students to apply their skills the evaluation of current events.

"[In the course,] we always do a final session or sessions relating current events to the historical cases and theoretical ideas developed in this course--including a debate between Professor Rosen and myself."

But, says Wendy E. Franz, head teaching fellow for Historical Studies A-12, courses that touch on the events in Yugoslavia must take care to keep newspaper headlines from taking over.

"The most important thing to note is that current events do not drive [a history course]," Franz says.

Other instructors say the classroom provides a more balanced and thorough forum for discussing current issues than the news media, which often merely skims the surface of complicated developments.