In light of national debate surrounding the U.S. government's surveillance of its citizens, Stop the War, a UW-Madison student-run anti-war organization, accused the University of collaborating in spy games with the U. S. Defense Department in a letter to Chancellor John Wiley Monday.
The letter was sent in response to a Dec. 14 NBC News expose in which a Department of Defense database containing reports on the meetings and actions of anti-war groups around the country was revealed.
According to an April 2005 posting on the Campus Anti-War Network website, which STW is a chapter of, an information day the ROTC recruiting center planned to host was cancelled due to the threat of a protest by UW-Madison's Stop the War group. These dates coincide with dates on the Defense Department's database and confirm the government was aware of plans for the protest.
In the past, STW claims they have been on watch by the national government. According to STW member Bill Anderson, during an on-campus February 2005 Multicultural Career Fair, the FBI, the Federal Bureau of Prisons and the Department of Homeland Security were also present.
Although Anderson said, 'we've been in compliance with all UW policies,' Blake Trimbell, a protestor at the event, was arrested and fined for disorderly conduct.
Anderson confirmed, 'We had no intention to hurt anyone. We are a peaceful organization.'
The revealing of this document has led STW members questioning the University's contact with the government and the surveillance of the group. In particular, STW is interested in Chancellor Wiley's involvement as a member of the FBI National Security Higher Education Advisory Board.
According to John Lucas, a UW-Madison spokesperson, the board is 'designed to improve cooperation between colleges and universities in the post 9/11 world.'
'[Wiley's] participation is to foster better understanding on a wide-range of issues. It's not to spy on people,' Lucas said.
Yet, STW wants more information and to find out 'what John Wiley is saying and the communication between the Department of Defense,' said Anderson.
As of now, Wiley has not responded to the group's letter.
'The chancellor is very concerned about the reports and he's read about them,' Lucas said . 'We'll comply [Stop the War's] freedom of information request and provide any documents that we have that would be responsive to that request.'
STW is still pressing for more information.
'If they're going to investigate us, we'll investigate them,' said Anderson.
