Editorial: University attempts to patch Leaks

Though we’re well aware that a profile picture of oneself doing a beer bong doesn’t look… Though we’re well aware that a profile picture of oneself doing a beer bong doesn’t look good to prospective employers, apparently posting or even discussing WikiLeaks on social networking sites could be harmful as well.

According to The Huffington Post, a State Department official and alumnus of Columbia University e-mailed that university’s School of International and Public Affairs this week saying that “students who will be applying for jobs in the federal government could jeopardize their prospects by posting links to WikiLeaks online, or even by discussing the leaked documents on social networking sites.”

The school’s Office of Career Services sent to its students an e-mail, which said “engaging in these activities would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information, which is part of most positions with the federal government.”

Because the State Department denies any federal involvement in the e-mail, we wonder why Columbia was so quick to get behind the alumnus’ claims.

According to The Huffington Post, Philip J. Crowley, a spokesman for the U.S. Department of State, said, “If an employee of the State Department sent such an e-mail, it does not represent a formal policy position.”

Federal employees and contractors were ordered this week not to view the documents published by WikiLeaks or other publications unless they have authorization, according to The New York Times.

This is because the information — despite being posted on public websites — is still considered classified.

Though it’s one thing for the government to order its employees not to read the leaked documents, it’s another to hold potential employees not under contract to that same standard.

But as Crowley said, it’s not a formal policy position.

The Huffington Post reports that “while republishing the leaked documents could indeed raise legal issues for students, it was the admonition against social media chatter that riled some at Columbia.”

Because students at Columbia are not current government employees, we feel that they shouldn’t be expected to keep its secrets — especially when those “secrets” are currently available to the public.

In addition, in an age in which young people do not read and discuss current events as frequently as they probably should, it seems wrong for an academic institution to discourage discussion on such a huge issue.

We especially find it interesting that Columbia — a university with a prominent journalism school — is discouraging the exercise of First Amendment rights.

While we think it’s nice that Columbia wants to protect its students’ job prospects, the disadvantages of posting are unclear.