RE: 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention

["Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com>]

The attached email to the writer of the story, the two profs, and the head
of the Umass Dartmouth library should smoke out the truth.

Richard


From: Richard M. Smith [mailto:rms () computerbytesman com] 
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 8:51 PM
To: anicodemus () s-t com
Cc: rbontbriand () umassd edu; bwilliams () umassd edu; asmith () umassd edu;
lzieper () umassd edu; 'Richard M. Smith'
Subject: Re: Agents' visit chills UMass Dartmouth senior 

Hi Aaron,

Re: http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm

Slashdot picked up your story here:
 
http://yro.slashdot.org/yro/05/12/17/2115239.shtml?tid=103&tid=158&tid=146&t
id=219

However, after reading your story, I'm wonder if the DHS visit was some kind
of hoax.  For example, what exactly are "agents of the Department of
Homeland Security"?  Also what did the UMass Dartmouth library have to say
about the allegation that they are cooperating with DHS by reporting on
students who check out books on a DHS "watch list".

Thanks,
Richard M. Smith
http://www.ComputerBytesMan.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: Fergie [mailto:fergdawg () netzero net] 
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 8:32 PM
To: rms () computerbytesman com
Cc: funsec () linuxbox org
Subject: RE: [funsec] 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention

Good questions, all.

We'll see -- the truth usually emerges in the end. ;-)

- ferg


-- "Richard M. Smith" <rms () computerbytesman com> wrote:

I saw this Slashdot post and article also.  The visit actually struck me as
some sort of hoax.  The only source for the story is the unnamed student.
Some aspects of the story struck me as pretty odd.  For example, I wonder
what "DHS agents" are.  And why didn't the writer check with the Umass
library for their side of the story?  

Also does the UMass library system really require SSN's for checking out
books between libraries?

Richard 

-----Original Message-----
From: funsec-bounces () linuxbox org [mailto:funsec-bounces () linuxbox org] On
Behalf Of Fergie
Sent: Saturday, December 17, 2005 6:44 PM
To: funsec () linuxbox org
Subject: [funsec] 'Little Red Book' Draws Government's Attention

...and people wonder why the Patriot Act is dangerous?

Thanks to a post over on Slashdot which alerted me to this article.

Aaron Nicodemus writes on SouthCoastToday.com:

[snip]

A senior at UMass Dartmouth was visited by federal agents two months ago,
after he requested a copy of Mao Tse-Tung's tome on Communism called "The
Little Red Book."

Two history professors at UMass Dartmouth, Brian Glyn Williams and Robert
Pontbriand, said the student told them he requested the book through the
UMass Dartmouth library's interlibrary loan program.

The student, who was completing a research paper on Communism for Professor
Pontbriand's class on fascism and totalitarianism, filled out a form for the
request, leaving his name, address, phone number and Social Security number.
He was later visited at his parents' home in New Bedford by two agents of
the Department of Homeland Security, the professors said.

The professors said the student was told by the agents that the book is on a
"watch list," and that his background, which included significant time
abroad, triggered them to investigate the student further.

[snip]

http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-05/12-17-05/a09lo650.htm

- ferg

{snip]

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