The USA PATRIOT Act is a beastly 131-page creation that was passed in a flurry of flag-waving in 2001. It has several terrible provisions: it allows “preventive detentions” and gives the federal government greater authority over the records of foreign students and vastly expands wiretap authority. One misguided requirement even mandates discrimination; it prevents university labs from allowing citizens of seven “terrorist-supporting states” to perform research on certain classified substances.
This law directly conflicts with the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) anti-discrimination policy, which prevents FAS from restricting research based on nationality. Under the regulations, it doesn’t matter if the aliens are political refugees or long-time expatriates from their home countries....
FAS should spearhead efforts to overturn this jingoistic law in court....
Able researchers, whatever their nationality, should be allowed to carry out their work without the hindrance of ill-conceived government harassment. Harvard’s Faculty must stand up for that right.
—Jan. 15, 2003
Repeal the Keg Ban
While the Crimson finished its second straight year with a victory over the Elis, the Harvard tailgates still had many of the same drinking problems as two years ago. In fact, the Harvard University Police Department said that, based on preliminary information, there had been more ambulance transports for intoxication this year than during the 2000 game. The newly-implemented keg ban did not accomplish its goal: to decrease problems associated with drinking.
Dean of the College Harry R. Lewis ’68 instituted the keg ban after four students got severe alcohol poisoning at The Game two years ago. Yet, preliminary numbers reveal that this year, even more students got sick—up to 30 students overall were taken by ambulance to local medical facilities and at least two were intubated for extreme intoxication, according to a source close to Professional Ambulance....
In effect, the keg ban prompted many students to “pre-game” before the tailgate with alcoholic drinks....
As long as the ban exists, it will remain an ineffective measure that will hurt students, the College and the environment much more than it could ever help. A keg prohibition will never address the serious problem of binge drinking.
—Dec. 3, 2002