All of the IU international students are going to be tracked before Jan. 30 due to new regulations set forth by the Immigration and Naturalization Services. This act has some groups worried of government wire taps and surveillance simply because an individual is from a foreign country. Images of Rocky Balboa being trailed by Russian liaisons in Rocky IV have people worried that the U.S. government will try to do the same due to Sept. 11 backlash. But there is one key point to the new system: It was passed in 1996. The new tracking system is a good idea. It was a good idea when it was passed six years ago and it is a good idea post-Sept. 11. The new tracking system is not being implemented to crack down on unsuspecting international students, it is being implemented to be sure that everyone who is in this country is here legally and is not committing illegal actions. The new system is not anything different than what is being used to track visiting foreigners in other countries. Even with the implementation of the new system, there are other countries that have tougher tracking regulations. Just ask an IU student in China who isn't allowed to leave the city where they are staying. The fact is this new Internet-based system makes it easier for authorities to find and report any "suspicious" behavior that is being committed by anyone who is here on student visas while providing help to those students when it is requested. An international student is not going to have to report to the INS every time he or she misses a class. It's unrealistic to think that any system can single out so many individuals for every small action they make. It's also naive to think that Sept. 11 has not played a role in the use of the system. "What 9/11 has done is hasten the need and desire for implementation of the system," said Lynn Schoch, the associate director for administration of the Office of International Services. But the key to working with the new system is realizing that Sept. 11 is not the only reason for student tracking. Just because one is being tracked does not mean the label of "terrorist" is being placed upon them. There is no need to fear "Big Brother" coming into international students' personal lives. All this system does is help them and those who assist them.
yes - no - abstain
