(no subject)

[theweaselking]

University student writing a paper on communism checks out a copy of The Little Red Book from the library - and gets a visit from Department of Homeland Security.

Comments

[scifantasy.livejournal.com]

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.

I'm just disgusted. This is an insult to every principle of American freedom.

[corruptedjasper.livejournal.com]

Those dirty furrin-lovin' tourists are untrustworthy to start with, and one that requests a Holy Book of Communism? String 'em up, every one. We're comin' to getcha, boy.

[spartonian.livejournal.com]

I'm more and more suprised anyone thinks this is news.

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

Waitwaitwait, the librarian was trying to stop him from getting his book?

Pretty serious violation of our professional code of ethics, there.

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

I want to know why he had to give his SSN to make an interlibrary loan request. I've never had to do that in any library system I've used, and we don't require it where I work. All we ask for is a name and an e-mail address (though you have to be a student to use the service, so it's not like that other info isn't accessible).

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

*waves* This changed a few years back, but when I registered at the U of Md (and by extension in its library system) the SID number was my SSN.

The current SID number is still linked to my SSN in many campus computer systems.

Update on this story:

[rimrunner.livejournal.com]

It may not be true. The blog I'm linking to is that of Jessamyn West, ALA Councilor-at-Large and all-around awesome person.

There are currently two versions of the story circulating. One of them (which places the incident at Santa Cruz) is confirmed bullshit. West is looking into the UMass-Dartmouth one, and the reporter who broke the original story is trying to get confirmation from the student or DHS (good luck on that second one, I guess).