Talia Shifron
To You Editor, Fused
On Tuesday January 20, 2009, President Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th president of the United States. After Obama took the presidential oath, he spoke to the American people about how we as a nation are going to move forward and change the problems with this country.
During his speech, Obama makes sure to discuss that the task ahead to change this nation is great however that we all need to work together to make it happen. He mentions that not everything can be done by the government and that all Americans need to come together to bring about change. One of the things that he discusses is terrorism and that we will say no to terrorism together as a nation, and that the government can not keep instilling fear into people trough the patriot act to take away their first amendment freedoms.
Since September 11, 2001 former president George W. Bush has convinced Americans that through the patriot act, they can all be safe and nothing can go wrong. However, Obama understands that this is not the case and wants to change this and let the country know this. We can no longer live in fear while our rights are being compromised in front of our very eyes. Bush was able to convince Americans that if rights just keep being taken away and the government can monitor our phone calls, and our conversations, and ultimately our every move, we will no longer have any terrorism. However, eventually if this continues, Americans will lose all of their first amendment freedoms that they should automatically be guaranteed in the first amendment.
Obama wants to change the way the patriot act works, and work together with all American people to stop terrorism instead of compromising their rights that should be guaranteed. If Obama is able to do this, slowly Americans will gain back their rights that have been compromised for the last eight years under former president Bush. The sad part is that Americans haven’t even realized how many rights they have lost because of the way Bush has been able to twist people’s mindsets.
Ultimately, the question ahead remains how Obama will be able to stop terrorism and stop compromising Americans freedoms. There is a different way that terrorism can be stopped and Obama needs to find it while working alongside with the American people. Change needs to happen in the next four or eight years, and with this change Americans should start gaining the rights they’ve sacrificed for the last eight years.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Riot Photographer Charged with Misdemeanor
After Penn State beat Ohio State in the October 25 football match, a large riot broke out. The Daily Collegian, the Penn State student newspaper, sent out a phtographer to capture the scene and photograph it. The photographer, Michael Felleter, is now asked to appear in court to face misdemeanor charges.
Felleter was taking photographs, and when he was asked to leave he identified himself as a member of the press and was allowed to stay. The events that followed are still being discussed, however it is sure that an additional polic officer asked him to leave. Felleter says he left at that point, yet police officers say that that he was asked again, refused and then charged with a misdemeanor. The case has yet to be completed.
The editor-in-chief of the Daily Collegian believes that the polcie officers became angry because as Felleter walked away, he kept on taking pictures. Though taking photographs after the police officers were already angry may not have been the smartest thing to do as far as Felleter's record goes, it was his right and it should not have caused him to be charged with a misdemeanor. Photographers have a righ to capture the news, and photographers are the ones that put images of events into people's minds. A picture is worth a thousand words, and Felleter was trying to capture a student riot in a few pictures. It is important to mention that the first officer let Felleter stay because he was part of the press. The fact that the law force is recognizing the improtance of the press is an important step toward a first amendment fulfillment.
Tamar Shachaf
About You Editor
Felleter was taking photographs, and when he was asked to leave he identified himself as a member of the press and was allowed to stay. The events that followed are still being discussed, however it is sure that an additional polic officer asked him to leave. Felleter says he left at that point, yet police officers say that that he was asked again, refused and then charged with a misdemeanor. The case has yet to be completed.
The editor-in-chief of the Daily Collegian believes that the polcie officers became angry because as Felleter walked away, he kept on taking pictures. Though taking photographs after the police officers were already angry may not have been the smartest thing to do as far as Felleter's record goes, it was his right and it should not have caused him to be charged with a misdemeanor. Photographers have a righ to capture the news, and photographers are the ones that put images of events into people's minds. A picture is worth a thousand words, and Felleter was trying to capture a student riot in a few pictures. It is important to mention that the first officer let Felleter stay because he was part of the press. The fact that the law force is recognizing the improtance of the press is an important step toward a first amendment fulfillment.
Tamar Shachaf
About You Editor
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Privacy in the library
Lauren Thiery
To You Editor, Fused
Act 455 of 1982, commonly known as “The Library Privacy Act,” applies to establishments that receive federal funds, such as public elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. This means that North is also subject to this act.
The Library Privacy Act makes certain library records confidential and provides for the selection and use of library materials. According to the Act, “library record” means “a document, record or other method of storing information retained by a library that contains information that personally identifies a library patron, including the patron's name, address or telephone number, or that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific materials from a library.”
This does not include materials which don’t identify any particular library patron that may be gathered to study or evaluate the circulation of library materials.
Because of this act, release or disclosure of library record without consent, procedure or a hearing is prohibited—meaning that the Act is not subject to the freedom of information act of the Public Acts of 1976.
Though the Act may be a hassle if a teacher or student simply wants to know if another library patron has checked out specific material due to overdue fines or to find the location of the material, it can be very beneficial.
If someone were to ask an employee of a library about a particular library patron’s record, and in doing so found out information they didn’t like about that person, many problems could arise. For example, by merely judging the titles of the material disclosed, a person’s religion, political opinions or general interests could become evident. And not necessarily everyone may agree with them.
Not every school completely respects its students’ rights of privacy granted to them by the First Amendment. This is why North, as well as any other school subject to The Library Privacy Act, should be aware of and appreciate every little thing that helps protect their privacy.
To You Editor, Fused
Act 455 of 1982, commonly known as “The Library Privacy Act,” applies to establishments that receive federal funds, such as public elementary and secondary schools, colleges and universities. This means that North is also subject to this act.
The Library Privacy Act makes certain library records confidential and provides for the selection and use of library materials. According to the Act, “library record” means “a document, record or other method of storing information retained by a library that contains information that personally identifies a library patron, including the patron's name, address or telephone number, or that identifies a person as having requested or obtained specific materials from a library.”
This does not include materials which don’t identify any particular library patron that may be gathered to study or evaluate the circulation of library materials.
Because of this act, release or disclosure of library record without consent, procedure or a hearing is prohibited—meaning that the Act is not subject to the freedom of information act of the Public Acts of 1976.
Though the Act may be a hassle if a teacher or student simply wants to know if another library patron has checked out specific material due to overdue fines or to find the location of the material, it can be very beneficial.
If someone were to ask an employee of a library about a particular library patron’s record, and in doing so found out information they didn’t like about that person, many problems could arise. For example, by merely judging the titles of the material disclosed, a person’s religion, political opinions or general interests could become evident. And not necessarily everyone may agree with them.
Not every school completely respects its students’ rights of privacy granted to them by the First Amendment. This is why North, as well as any other school subject to The Library Privacy Act, should be aware of and appreciate every little thing that helps protect their privacy.
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