IDS Patriot Act coverage lacked necessary balance

Monday's (June 13) IDS coverage included segments covering the U.S. Patriot Act, which has several sections scheduled to expire later this year. Both the article entitled "GOP chairman walks off during Patriot Act hearing" and the misguided opinion of Jeffery Isaac fail to do what the staff and reporters of the Indiana Daily Student should be doing; telling the whole story.\nIt's common knowledge on this campus that our student newspaper isn't exactly the most politically balanced. One can understand this when considering the media as a whole, as the IDS is just following national trends. But opportunities have come and gone and the IDS has failed to be a true example of balanced journalism.\nYour coverage of the Patriot Act (on June 13) was a true example of ineffective and unrepresentative journalism. As a supporter and proponent of this critical and effective piece of legislation, it pains me to not see one word of praise or acknowledgement for this bill.\nPresident Bush gave an excellent speech to the Ohio State Highway Patrol Academy citing many of the accomplishments and successes found since the institution of the Patriot Act, post-Sept. 11. The Patriot Act has made some critical, common sense reforms to law enforcement, which includes enhancing the ability to share information between agencies and allowing investigators to use tools once reserved only for criminals for all enemies of freedom. The IDS didn't tell us any of this, did they?\nI challenge Jeffrey Isaac's notion that the Patriot Act was "rushed through Congress with no discussion, much less debate" and remind him that 98 of the 100 senators voted for this piece of legislation. Sounds to me like common sense, bipartisan, effective democracy. The Senators and Representatives now trashing Republicans were the same ones that stood side-by-side with their colleagues just days after Sept. 11 singing "God Bless America" on the steps of the Capitol.\nIt's time for all of Congress to come together like before and renew this critical piece of legislation. Media attention like that of the IDS, however, doesn't make the process any easier.