Agents' visit chills UMass Dartmouth senior (Library-related)

http://college.lisnews.org/article.pl?sid=05/12/17/2037223&from=rss

A senior at UMass Dartmouth was visited by federal agents two months ago, after he requested a copy of Mao Tse-Tung's tome on Communism called "The Little Red Book." Two history professors at UMass Dartmouth, Brian Glyn Williams and Robert Pontbriand, said the student told them he requested the book through the UMass Dartmouth library's interlibrary loan program. The student, who was completing a research paper on Communism for Professor Pontbriand's class on fascism and totalitarianism, filled out a form for the request, leaving his name, address, phone number and Social Security number. He was later visited at his parents' home in New Bedford by two agents of the Department of Homeland Security, the professors said. The professors said the student was told by the agents that the book is on a "watch list," and that his background, which included significant time abroad, triggered them to investigate the student further.

She verified this story as true, and also mentioned that it happened to 4 other students. This particular student (his father actually) was the only one who came forward. GET THIS OUT THERE, DUers!!!!

I'm an academic librarian, and on a couple boards I'm on, there's been commentary about whether this kid was lying and made up the story. Some people just can't imagine that DHS doesn't have better things to do than harass college students.

I found the story hard to believe, so I called. Freaking scary to say the least
http://www.lib.umassd.edu/SPpages/Hourinfo.html

I'm looking forward to hearing more details about this as it comes out. Do you know if the feds had been monitoring the ILL request system, or if someone at the library took it upon him- or herself to report him (or them, if four students were involved).

She was quite surprised that they were able to get the student's information from the library's computer sysytem. She was, at first, defensive about their policy of not giving out students' information. So I doubt it was just volunteered. Did the feds hack into their computer system?? Sure sounds like a possibility. Man, this should be a national story.

Apparently, the ILL system sends requests via e-mail, and since we now about the feds monitoring e-mail communication over the ether, that's how it got picked up.

I also got this on a listserv today:

Here is a statement by UMass/Dartmouth, posted to the Law Librarians
listserv by a Law Firm librarian who contacted UMass.


The following is the UMass Dartmouth statement on the Homeland Security
issue.

12/19/2005CONTACT: John Hoey, 508.999.8027 University of Massachusetts Dartmouth statement regarding Homeland Security library issue

University of Massachusetts Dartmouth officials are investigating reports that a student at the university was visited by officials from Homeland Security after the student requested a copy of Chairman Mao's "Little Red Book". UMass administrators have interviewed the student who has requested that his identity be shielded, and the University is complying with that request.

At this point, it is difficult to ascertain how Homeland Security obtained the information about the student's borrowing of the book. The UMass Dartmouth Library has not been visited by agents of any type seeking information about the borrowing patterns or habits of any of its patrons and did not handle the request for the book in question. The student has indicated that another university
library processed the request.The UMass Dartmouth library has established policies for handling requests under the Patriot Act and has taken every lawful measure possible to protect the confidentiality of patron records.

The Library subscribes to the American Library Association Library Bill of Rights and was a signatory to the MCCLPHEI (Massachusetts Conference of Chief Librarians of Public Higher
Educational Institutions) resolution on the USA Patriots Act submitted to the Massachusetts Civil Liberty Union in 2003.

UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Jean F. MacCormack said, "It is important that our students and our faculty be unfettered in their pursuit of knowledge about other cultures and political systems if their education and research is to be meaningful. We must do everything possible to protect the principles of academic inquiry.''

Ann Montgomery Smith
Dean of Library Services
University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Library
voice 508-999-8664, fax 508-999-8987
asm...@umassd.edu

incredible! k&r

come to light. Goes to show the scary state of things.

if anyone remains unconvinced that bush has overreached, this should confirm it.

Under the Radar area.

Hello, NSA CIA SPY PEOPLE -- whatever -- I actually OWN a copy of Mao's little red book! And I lived in China for a year! During which time I actually WORKED FOR THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT. Yes, I was IN THE PAY OF THE REDS! I consorted with REAL LIVE CARD CARRYING COMMUNISTS.

Come get me motherfuckers!

eom

i didn't realize those were "REDS" that flew into the twin towers. I thought they were Iraqi's :sarcasm:

Guess the Cold Warriors who are now in charge of DHS still have a big ol' woody about Communism.

:crazy:

Book Fair I went to recently - picked it up to show my friend and then left it on the table so, horror, my prints are on it now (but don't think prints are in anybody's database-eek was I still wearing my gloves?)- It was only $4.50 as I recall.