FBI investigates USU aviation students following Sept. 11
FBI investigates USU aviation students following Sept. 11
In the wake of Sept. 11, close to 300 Utah State University student records have been released to the FBI as they try to find more suspects in the terror attacks.
“In the case of national interests, we felt it was right,” said former USU Registrar David Roos who recently accepted another position as registrar at Dixie State College.
In the week following Sept. 11, an e-mail was sent by the American Association of College Registrars and Admissions Officers (AACRAO) to registrars around the country asking for their compliance in the FBI’s request for student records.
According to the Family Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), student records are private with the exception that “The disclosure is in connection with a safety emergency.”
Roos said the e-mail stated the U.S. Department of Education had ruled Sept. 11 and its effects to be a safety emergency and the disclosure of student records would not be a violation of the privacy act.
“Right after the Sept. 11 attacks, each FBI office was directed by FBI headquarters to request aviation student records,” said Kevin Eaton, FBI supervisory special agent of the Salt Lake field office. “We’re reviewing the lists [of students] to look for any connection to the terrorists or any future terrorism. We are continuing to gather records.”
Information given to the FBI included each student’s name, address, date of birth, courses taken and when, along with the student’s nationality, Beck said.
USU operates the largest commercial flight training program in Utah with nearly 300 students, said Pam Allen, staff assistant at the flight school.
Other commercial flight programs throughout the state include Westminster College, Salt Lake Community College, Utah Valley State College, and Dixie State. The FBI has examined records at all five schools.
With a myriad of evidence gathered in the terror case, the FBI is searching for congruent names on credit cards and bank accounts which may have provided financial backing for the attacks, starting first with aviation students, Eaton said. The FBI is also attempting to connect individuals to the anthrax scares.
One student said he is pleased with the idea.
“I think it’s a good thing. I’m not worried about me,” said Danny Godfrey, flight technology major. “I hope they can find more people [responsible for the attacks].”
On Oct. 26, President George W. Bush signed the PATRIOT Act ensuring that further disclosure of student records to law enforcement officials must be done with a court order.