UW-Madison administrators are circulating a memo among faculty and staff giving them instructions as to what to do if approached by federal agencies for confidential student records.
In the e-mail UW Vice Chancellor of Legal and Executive Affairs Melany Newby sent last week, she advised faculty and staff to refer requests for student information to the Administrative Legal Services. But she also said there was no reason to believe any such requests would be made in the near future.
University Communications University Relations Specialist John Lucas said he did not believe any requests had been filed by federal agencies so far. But he also justified the university's precautions as legitimate based on the current events taking place in the nation and abroad.
\I think any time you see the situation developing on the national level you want to prepare yourself locally,"" he said.
UW-Madison Chancellor John Wiley said employees around campus began asking questions after they heard about new anti-terrorism legislation passed in Washington, D.C. The legislation emphasizes increased precautions such as broadening wire-tapping abilities and making it easier to deport foreigners living in the United States.
But it makes no mention of new standards for obtaining student records. Wiley said, therefore, that he did not believe any students, or international students in particular, should be too concerned.
""I don't believe they need to worry any more than they would have before Sept. 11 with one exception,"" he said.
That exception is the possibility that it would be easier for federal agencies to get a court order to obtain confidential student information, which is the only way the university is required to hand over information.
Last month, Indiana University released the records of 3,200 students who had taken intensive English as a second language courses to federal authorities.
UW-Madison sophomore Hani Bou-Reslan, who is from Lebanon, said he was surprised when he heard that federal agencies would look into student records for any evidence of terrorist affiliation.
""I think they're just looking in the wrong direction,"" he said.
Still, Bou-Reslan said he was not worried he would be personally subjected to a court subpoena simply because he is an international student.
""As long as they do it within the laws,"" he said, he would find it acceptable.
UW-Madison sophomore Andre Gondohusodo of Indonesia said he was not concerned either, and understood higher government scrutiny since Sept. 11.
""I want to help as much as possible,"" he said.
Gondohusodo also said as long as federal agencies do it lawfully, he accepts the fact that they need to research international students.
""I don't mind,"" he said. ""I don't have anything to hide.""
Wiley said he agreed students should not feel threatened, but said he was still somewhat uneasy with the potential of federal agents abusing their power to obtain information now that the courts may be more willing to grant subpoenas.
""It doesn't concern me any more as a chancellor than it does as a citizen,"" he said.
UW-Madison freshman Jaseem Alseddiqui, of the United Arab Emirates, said he would not mind if the FBI got his information or even if they tapped his phones. He said he understood, however, that some students could feel they were being discriminated against because of their status as international student.
He said even though he values his privacy, he would not care if the government obtained information about him.
""If the government needs it, so what? Let them take it,"" he said.
