2008 Woodie Awards
Challenging the Patriot Act
Blaine McFeeley
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Op/Ed
Simply attending Muhlenberg College, or any American college or university for that matter, is a dangerous act. This danger is occurring because of the United States Government's continuous reauthorization of the U.S.A. Patriot Act (Whose official name is United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act).
There are numerous ways in which each and every college student's livelihood may be endangered, and it would be impossible to discuss every one of them here. But it is obvious that there is a dramatic and negative impact upon our college, as well as the colleges and universities across America.
The U.S.A. Patriot Act has a blatant disregard for the civil liberties of all Americans, especially those who they deem to be of "special interest."
For example, a Muslim male at Muhlenberg College between the ages of 17 and 40 would be labeled a "special interest" person by the government.
On our campus, a few of the very important ways that you could possibly be affected without even being aware are within our library. Since September 11, the F.B.I. has gained the right to obtain library checkout records, so long as they have "probable cause."
The problem is that the definition of "probable cause" has been widened by this law so that simply being a "special interest" person qualifies as being "probable cause." But "probable cause" can also encompass any number of other wide-ranging reasons. ACLU, the group who was largely responsible for leading the fight for African American rights, says about your library records, "The F.B.I. does not even have to show a reasonable suspicion that the records are related to criminal activity, much less the requirement for 'probable cause' that is listed in the fourth amendment to the Constitution. All the government needs to do is make the broad assertion that the request is related to an ongoing terrorism investigation."
Once "probable cause" is given a number of dangerous and tyrannical acts can be taken by the F.B.I., which some would say is an arm of the executive branch. The F.B.I. then has the right to go through personal records, including financial and medical records.
There are numerous ways in which each and every college student's livelihood may be endangered, and it would be impossible to discuss every one of them here. But it is obvious that there is a dramatic and negative impact upon our college, as well as the colleges and universities across America.
The U.S.A. Patriot Act has a blatant disregard for the civil liberties of all Americans, especially those who they deem to be of "special interest."
For example, a Muslim male at Muhlenberg College between the ages of 17 and 40 would be labeled a "special interest" person by the government.
On our campus, a few of the very important ways that you could possibly be affected without even being aware are within our library. Since September 11, the F.B.I. has gained the right to obtain library checkout records, so long as they have "probable cause."
The problem is that the definition of "probable cause" has been widened by this law so that simply being a "special interest" person qualifies as being "probable cause." But "probable cause" can also encompass any number of other wide-ranging reasons. ACLU, the group who was largely responsible for leading the fight for African American rights, says about your library records, "The F.B.I. does not even have to show a reasonable suspicion that the records are related to criminal activity, much less the requirement for 'probable cause' that is listed in the fourth amendment to the Constitution. All the government needs to do is make the broad assertion that the request is related to an ongoing terrorism investigation."
Once "probable cause" is given a number of dangerous and tyrannical acts can be taken by the F.B.I., which some would say is an arm of the executive branch. The F.B.I. then has the right to go through personal records, including financial and medical records.