F News Question
Senator Diane Feinstein (D-Calif.) has proposed legislation to reform the U.S. student visa program, which would include the implementation of a $32.3 million foreign student tracking system. (The proposal has garnered support and wide-spread media attention since authorities learned that at least one of the hijackers from September 11 was in the U.S. on a student visa).
Is this a necessary form of security or will it lead to unjustified scrutinization of foreign students?
 Illustration by Vidhi Kejriwal |
Of course it is necessary, as stated in the fact that several of the hijackers were enrolled as students. Could we please stop trying to look for ways to cast us bourgeois art makers as some kind of oppressed underclass. And yes, they should pay more scrutiny to students from countries with fundamentalist histories.
-Christopher Sullivan; instructor
Unfortunately, events like the recent terrorist attacks necessitate governmental action to shore up the nation's vulnerabilities to enemy penetration. This proposal provides a simple and basic means of enforcing existing immigration laws. However, for humanitarian reasons, I object to the use of electronic surveillance of any kind. On this particular issue the government needs to put some teeth into rules that are already in effect and give incentives to organizations authorized to report and follow up on cases where individuals here on student visas are not attending school anywhere. Report and deport if and when it is necessary. Electronic tracking of any human being is way too intrusive.
-John Reth; grad student in sculpture
Senator Feinstein's reforms would inevitably lower the boom of "unjustified scrutiny" on some undeserving persons, and the sensationalism of identity politics would surely make this unfortunate (though logically unavoidable) consequence much more public than any attendant successes (which are by their preventative nature invisible). Such is the curse of identity politics, which typically rely on jaundiced 20/20 hindsight to justify debilitating myopia in the forward direction.
The terrorist attacks have challenged this country to reacknowledge the utilitarian logic so easily shelved in the back warehouses of prosperous peace, yet demanded by the philosophy of the social contract: that we all must give up a measure of individual liberty in order to enjoy the security of collective society. It is the virtue of THIS society that its flawed government not only bothers with, but is predicated on debating the who's, how's, and why's of practicing that logic. Luckily, this proposal's ethical tangles prove less vexing than usual because it concerns foreign citizens, whose residence in this country is a privilege, not a right. If the luxuries of privacy and open education which we graciously extend to foreigners must be slightly curtailed to preserve our own citizens' security, then I see no reason in principle to oppose it.
-John Pavlus; staff, Visual Communication
I think that'll lead to unjustified scrutinization of foreign students.
-Tae Kang Kim, Graduate Student
Considering the dilemma our great nation faces today we do need to take action that may impose on people. With regards to this subject we must remember that students on visas are NOT American citizens. They do not share all the rights that citizens of this nation do. We must protect ourselves from outside threats. I feel scrutiny that may be implemented on foreign students is very necessary in order to preserve the freedoms of American citizens. It is unfortunate for some who might feel that this scrutiny is offensive, but if they wish to study here it is a small sacrifice compared to the benefits of education and experience this country has to offer.
-Jeff Jura; student
We cannot be so shortsighted to think that all foreign students must suffer the consequences for a few damaging people that enrolled at schools and universities. Foreign students in general are the catalysts for many interesting exchanges. I have personally had many students from other countries in my classes over all the years that I have taught. They have brought diversity in thought and making, both in materials and methods. Just as our students from America want to broaden their education and views on the world so too must we be able to offer a place where minds can continue to be challenged by our culture and the way we do things.
-Andrea Arsenault; department of Fashion Design
I think that in light of the events that have taken place it is not unnecessary [that many people] want foreign visitors to be kept track of. I think if there are a couple of extra forms to fill out, or a stricter immigration policy that is fine. I do not however, think it should affect the ability of foreign students to learn. They should be able to continue their education.
-Jim Ochs; Executive Director Information Services, Art Institute of Chicago
At this time, I'm sure there are many Americans who are for this proposal because of their fear. While fear and anger are justified and expected, this is no reason to be irrational. I thought that we (and I'm referring to Americans) were fighting for democracy, for freedom. Not only does this package trounce on the freedom that we hold so dearly, but what about the Patriot Act, that among other things allows authorities to use covert searches for any criminal investigation? This means that without your knowledge, right this moment the police could be in your house downloading your computer files, searching through your bedroom dresser and photographing your kitchen. Now perhaps most people don't think anything of this. After all, most of us aren't terrorists. I don't have anything to hide. But if the government can do this, then what next?
There is a serious breach of student rights as well as human rights. The government has to deal with the issue of private and public life. If entering into the private life of foreign and American students [is legal], and through both the Patriot Act and the Feinstein Proposal they are, they see that monitoring their activities is going to end terrorism in the United States; I think that's wonderful. But how many students do you know skip class? Miss class when they are sick? Have decided to drop a class, but don't do it until the deadline appears?
As a student and American I can honestly say that I am not united behind these government responses. I'm wondering if next Congress is going to tell me that colleges and universities are no longer allowed to teach Arab or nondemocratic based classes because they don't support President Bush. Are we going to compromise the education of the world's people? The very people that we are relying on to understand the events that occurred on September 11; the very people whom we are relying on to prevent such a thing happening in the future.
-Mary Hardenbergh; student
I was listening to the radio the other day and one segment was on orthodox Buddhism. The religion is based around discipline. If we look at the problem as a tree, we must cut it at the root in order find resolution. We can clip the branches away, but they will only grow back.
I think any sort of moderation would be good for short term results, but we are just modifying the system. And everyone knows that systems have loopholes and if there is a will, there is a way. What we should really be looking at here is the root.
I don't think that students shouldn't be able to study abroad, but maybe the attention we are putting into this could go to a better source.
-Erin Foley; Student
It is both[necessary and unnecessarily scrutinizing].
-Richard Pallotta; Operations
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