STUDENT PRIVACY AT WHITMAN COLLEGE

Last September, Congress passed the USA PATRIOT Act in order to “protect” our country against “terrorists”. In so doing, they also managed to infringe on various civil liberties and constitutional rights. Included among these civil rights violations lie multiple infringements which directly involve students: roving internet taps, increased access to protected information (protected by FERPA) and secret investigations which do not require informing the person being investigated.

Knowledge of these above possibilities, coupled with the fact that the federal government had already requested information on students at over two hundred universities and colleges, led the Whitman Civil Liberties Union (WCLU) to send letters to many members of the administration and other offices on campus requesting information on school policies regarding governmental information requests. The letter asked various questions, like: has the FBI, CIA or other government agency contacted Whitman College for information on students? What policies exist to protect private student information?

Dean of Students, Chuck Cleveland, responded to the answers posed. Thus far, no inquires have been made by the federal government; but should they be made in the future, Whitman has multiple policies to insure student privacy. Dean Cleveland said that any information requests would first be passed to the administration’s lawyer, who would verify the request as legal. Upon the receipt of a request, the student would be immediately informed that a government agency was investigating them. Additionally, the student would be informed of what information was being requested and would be asked whether or not (s)he will allow the release of information. Dean Cleveland also expressed interest in reworking the campus policy so that all requests are required to go through the Dean’s office (presently, there is no policy saying requires requests to go the Dean’s office). He also said that the college’s administration is very concerned with maintaining the privacy of students on campus, even from governmental agencies.