Amendment would require colleges and universities to police wire communications for illegal gambling or forgo funding

May 23, 2001

President Brian Hawkins sent a letter to Senator John McCain, chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, expressing strong concern over a recent amendment requiring colleges and universities to monitor the use of wire communications to determine whether illegal gambling activities are occurring. This amendment raises serious questions about user privacy rights and academic freedom. It also requires institutions to take unreasonable, burdensome, and costly measures to monitor any potential illegal activity over wire communications or forgo federal education funding in future years. The letter requested that the amendment be removed from the legislation (S.718).