2008 Woodie Awards
Patriot Act deters international students, say professors
By: Ryan Martin
Issue date: 12/1/05 Section: News
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In a panel discussion, "Where Have All the International Students Gone," scholars contended the Patriot Act is a major determinant for the declining number of international students.
The Patriot Act was signed into law on Oct. 26, 2001. The law was created for the purpose of fighting terrorism, in which government agencies were given broad powers to capture alleged terrorists. Some of the powers have an effect on civil liberties.
"The Patriot Act gives broad discretionary powers to the government to interfere with university life," said Bert Barry, director of international services and director of English as a second language.
The discussion was held Nov. 17 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge. Besides Barry, the panel was compiled of former Missouri Governor Bob Holden; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of International Programs Grant Chapman; and James Evans, associate vice president for international programs.
The panel discussed how the Patriot Act has been used as a ploy on grounds that have defied the democratic process.
"With Sept. 11, it gave a lot of politicians an excuse under the auspices of security," Holden said. "There's nothing that does more to undermine democracy."
Barry said the notion of labeling the act as patriotic was preposterous.
"I think it's a terrible name for the act because it's a terrible act," Barr said.
Holden said the act gave the government the power to take away the rights of individuals without justification.
"Under the Patriot Act, they really don't have to justify what they're doing," Holden said.
One of the issues to the declining numbers of international students is security, Evans said. He said the second reason is the pressure of globalization.
"There are proposals to restrict immigration because of labor," Evans said. "Illegal aliens and undocumented workers are our history. The 800-pound gorilla in this country is always racism. That remains a problem we don't often like to address."
The Patriot Act was signed into law on Oct. 26, 2001. The law was created for the purpose of fighting terrorism, in which government agencies were given broad powers to capture alleged terrorists. Some of the powers have an effect on civil liberties.
"The Patriot Act gives broad discretionary powers to the government to interfere with university life," said Bert Barry, director of international services and director of English as a second language.
The discussion was held Nov. 17 in the University Center Sunnen Lounge. Besides Barry, the panel was compiled of former Missouri Governor Bob Holden; Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Director of International Programs Grant Chapman; and James Evans, associate vice president for international programs.
The panel discussed how the Patriot Act has been used as a ploy on grounds that have defied the democratic process.
"With Sept. 11, it gave a lot of politicians an excuse under the auspices of security," Holden said. "There's nothing that does more to undermine democracy."
Barry said the notion of labeling the act as patriotic was preposterous.
"I think it's a terrible name for the act because it's a terrible act," Barr said.
Holden said the act gave the government the power to take away the rights of individuals without justification.
"Under the Patriot Act, they really don't have to justify what they're doing," Holden said.
One of the issues to the declining numbers of international students is security, Evans said. He said the second reason is the pressure of globalization.
"There are proposals to restrict immigration because of labor," Evans said. "Illegal aliens and undocumented workers are our history. The 800-pound gorilla in this country is always racism. That remains a problem we don't often like to address."