William Paterson University to Hold Conference on Counterintelligence and the Constitution

The roots of the 2001 USA Patriot Act, and the issues of liberty versus security inherent in the Act, are the focus of a conference for high school students to be held at William Paterson University on Friday, April 23.
“Counterintelligence and the Constitution,” an interactive panel discussion, will present a debate about the issues of security and liberty in America, both today and in history, and will be held in conjunction with the Bergen County School District. The program is part of “OurStory: Teaching American History,” a grant-funded program dedicated to supporting curriculum in American history.

The audience will include approximately 150 high school students from Bergen County who will be interacting with panelists who are experts on the Act.

The morning session will feature panelists who will present a discussion on finding the balance between national security and civil liberties.

All students will participate in two afternoon sessions with William Paterson University history professors, including Terence Finnegan, chairperson of the history department, Jonathan Bone, Evelyn Gonzalez, Dewar MacLeod, and Daniel Meaders, who will lead discussions on the role of President Woodrow Wilson’s Espionage Act in curtailing the acts of German sabotage in World War I, and President Franklin Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, dealing with Japanese internment, and Korematu v. U.S. in World War II.

The panelists include Zachary Fink, a general assignment reporter from New Jersey Network, who was based in Iraq in 2002, Caitlin Borgmann, a member of the board of directors of the New Jersey ACLU, Gitanjali Gutierrez, also a panelist, is an attorney who specializes in public interest and constitutional litigation, Rick Stanley, a lawyer who has experience prosecuting terrorist cases, and reference librarian Ann Sparnese, who works at the Englewood Library.

Grant partners include the American Labor Museum, Botto House National Monument; Bergen County Historical Society; Bergen County Technical Schools; Englewood Public Schools; Garfield Public Schools; New Jersey Historical Society; and William Paterson University.

Congress passed the Patriot Act as a means to “unite and strengthen America by providing appropriate tools required to intercept and obstruct terrorists acts.”

For additional information, please call Chris Wallace, program coordinator, OurStory, 201-862-6213.
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For Further Information, contact:

Mary Beth Zeman, Director, Public Relations 973-720-2966

4/15/04