Issue Date: 10/2/06
Students don't pose threat
By Jamie Livengood
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Records released in June revealed that the Department of Defense monitored the e-mail of student groups at several colleges that coordinated protests against the Iraq war, according to a report in The Chronicle of Higher Education.
The surveillance was conducted after the department received tips through Talon, a system that allows civilians and members of the military to report suspected terrorist activity, and confirmed that the events planned by the students might in fact pose a threat to security.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, private citizens have been asked to lessen their expectations of privacy in exchange for increased feelings of security. The most notable controversies have been fought over warrantless wiretapping programs and the continuation of the Patriot Act.
Many people are willing to give an inch in the way of constitutional rights if it leads to the actual prevention of an attack or feeling safer walking down a city street. But when the government starts equating liberal-leaning college students with suspected terrorists, the line becomes blurred as to whether domestic spying is in the interest of the public or the politicians.
Domestic spying as a means of political advantage is nothing new. President Nixon kept an infamous "enemies list" of figures who were openly against the Vietnam War or his administration. The purpose of the list, according to a well-known memo from Nixon aide John Dean, was to look into ways of using "the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies."
The Bush administration is not gunning for vocal critics, and even if there were a personal enemies list, it's extremely unlikely that a lowly student protestor would ever end up on it and receive an unfortunate tax audit. However, the prospect of landing in a database meant to stop terrorists and having your private communications monitored as part of an investigation you're not even aware of is similarly unpleasant.
The surveillance was conducted after the department received tips through Talon, a system that allows civilians and members of the military to report suspected terrorist activity, and confirmed that the events planned by the students might in fact pose a threat to security.
Following the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, private citizens have been asked to lessen their expectations of privacy in exchange for increased feelings of security. The most notable controversies have been fought over warrantless wiretapping programs and the continuation of the Patriot Act.
Many people are willing to give an inch in the way of constitutional rights if it leads to the actual prevention of an attack or feeling safer walking down a city street. But when the government starts equating liberal-leaning college students with suspected terrorists, the line becomes blurred as to whether domestic spying is in the interest of the public or the politicians.
Domestic spying as a means of political advantage is nothing new. President Nixon kept an infamous "enemies list" of figures who were openly against the Vietnam War or his administration. The purpose of the list, according to a well-known memo from Nixon aide John Dean, was to look into ways of using "the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies."
The Bush administration is not gunning for vocal critics, and even if there were a personal enemies list, it's extremely unlikely that a lowly student protestor would ever end up on it and receive an unfortunate tax audit. However, the prospect of landing in a database meant to stop terrorists and having your private communications monitored as part of an investigation you're not even aware of is similarly unpleasant.
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