Panel dissects Patriot Act
by Terresa Redding
The Metropolitan
The Metro Student Government Assembly sponsored a panel discussion and an open debate for students to discuss Homeland Security and the Patriot Act Thursday, April 15 at the Multicultural Lounge in the Tivoli.
The USA Patriot Act (the full name is "Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism") was passed into law 45 days after 9/11. The Patriot Act grants law enforcement and government authorities greater power to conduct searches, use wiretaps, and detain and question suspects. President Bush calls the act, "a vital tool in the war on terror."
The Homeland Security Department is an executive department created in 2002 by the Bush administration for the purpose of "developing and implementing a national strategy to make the United States safe from terrorist threats or attacks."
Amy Eckert, a Metro political science professor and a member of Thursday's panel said, "We depend on the government to preserve our common life-our freedom-and the Patriot Act infringes on that right."
What raises the most concern about the Patriot bill, many of the panelists said, is the fact that the government can declare anyone a suspect and therefore wiretap or "bug" their phones, and do search warrants without ever having to inform the suspect. The right to privacy will no longer exist for those who are labeled as suspects.
"Any of us can be alleged to fall into the suspect category," Eckert said.
On April 17, 2004, the Associated Press reported that President Bush is pushing for renewal of the Patriot Act.
Bush said "Congress would place the nation at greater risk of attack if it fails to renew the law's wide-ranging law enforcement powers."
Another proposal, for "The USA Patriot Act II," is set to come into play very soon. Many think this bill will further minimize American rights and privileges in favor of security from terrorism.
"Patriot Act I & II can possibly generate a police state for the entire country," said Dr. Robert Hazan, a member of the panel and a Metro political science professor.
Whether or not students agree with the Patriot Act was not the issue of the panel. They sought to inform students of the Patriot Act and discuss what has happened because of it and how the bill can affect students and people they know. |
