The forum, sponsored by the Young Democrats, included Ralph Strickland, legal adviser to the Orange County sheriff; Al McSurely, a senior partner in a civil rights law firm; and Seth Jaffe, staff attorney for the N.C. branch of American Civil Liberties Union.
Chris Brook, president of the Young Democrats, said the loss of civil liberties is an important issue to be discussed in light of heightened nationwide fear and said his organization can present a balanced view on the topic.
Jaffe said the Patriot Act, passed by Congress and signed by President Bush last month, curtails civil liberties in the name of protection against terrorism.
The Patriot Act gives the CIA more freedom to monitor phone and e-mail conversations and search homes without a warrant. In certain types of searches, the FBI can search an individual's home, seize personal property and not tell the individual, Jaffe said.
This provision is not sunset, which means it does not end after four years, and could affect civil liberties long after the threat of terrorism has passed, Jaffe said.
McSurely said the Patriot Act causes what he called a chilling effect, which might make individuals feel their free speech is inhibited. "Don't write things in an e-mail you wouldn't want to see on the front page of the news," Strickland said.
In addition, universities can now give the government students' information that was originally gathered for statistical purposes. Under the new act, 200 colleges have supplied information about students to the CIA, FBI and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
"It is a very ambiguous political situation we are facing now," McSurely said. "Ordinary people like ourselves have to stay strong. We face the question of how do we begin to rebuild our confidence and drain fear out of our society."
McSurely mentioned the importance of participating in government and taking an active part in making sure people do not hand too much power to officials.
