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Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU

By Jeralyn, Section Civil Liberties
Posted on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 09:37:43 AM EST
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Campus protesters have scored a big victory in New York.

A planned CIA recruiting event at New York University (NYU) was canceled after the Campus Antiwar Network (CAN) called a protest demanding the CIA abandon its recruiting program at NYU. Twenty hours before the recruiting event was scheduled to begin, its organizers sent an e-mail to all those who had registered, headlined, "The CIA Speaker Event scheduled for Thursday, March 31 @6PM has been CANCELED due to the possibility of a protest by the Campus Antiwar Network."

The CIA only planned recruiting events at two universities this semester, perhaps in an attempt to test the waters before jumping in:

This alliance between the university and the CIA to market CIA employment on campus is taking place at only two universities this semester: NYU and the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA). Students at both schools have rallied in protest against the program.

"We believe they're testing the waters to see how brazenly they can recruit on campuses without encountering student opposition, before spreading programs like this to colleges across the country," said Elizabeth Wrigley-Field, a senior at NYU and member of the Campus Antiwar Network. "Forcing them to cancel their big speaking event is a huge victory. It showed them they can't market an agency that supports torture and murder around the world without a fight."

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    Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU | 46 comments (46 topical)
    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#1)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 09:54:04 AM EST
    I am confused how protesting the recruiting process will benefit anyone. We need our best and brightest (that includes students from the NYU) to make the CIA better and improve upon its poor record over the past couple of years. Is the government to never recruit on a college campus? If one thinks so I would have to disagree. We need promising young minds in Washington now more than ever.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#2)
    by scarshapedstar on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:11:05 AM EST
    Well, let's see. At this point, you either believe that the CIA is a puppet of the white house or that they maliciously decieved our otherwise infallible dear leader. Why would anyone want new CIA recruits?

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#3)
    by roy on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:16:09 AM EST
    I think that protests like this are kind of sleazy; it's an attack against job-seeking students as much as against the CIA. But, it's sort of a counterattack. Fedgov has been whittling away lawful protests for decades, so I guess a sleazy protest is fair.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#5)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:21:10 AM EST
    I applaud the students. It's their school, if they don't want spooks on campus, it's their right to protest their presence.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#6)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:25:12 AM EST
    I went to the same high school as Liz, and I think she's only a year younger than I am. It's good to see she's still causing trouble and giving the higher ups a hard time. Plus she's got a great name, especially on this wonderful opening day.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#7)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:26:18 AM EST
    What "good person" would join such an organization? Assasinations, black-ops, third world coups...it's not a business for "good people", but for "bad guys". I'm reminded of an old dub track, the singer escapes me...."Rastaman no work for the DEA, no way...Scotland Yard, KGB, neither the CIA." I say again, "good people" become teachers, nurses, carpenters....not spooks.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#8)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:30:38 AM EST
    I agree with GregZ that we need our best and brightest. However Greg, a key factor is recruitment of the best and brightest with a sense of humanity. No one believes that cancelling a public recruiting event at 2 top schools will stop the process. The message conveyed, through protest, is that the best and the brightest also have the courage to disagree with policies that only benefit a few, at the expense of much of the world. The short term risks of the best and brightest running afoul of right-wing policies, may put their short-term earning potential in jeopardy. The reward, however, would be avoiding future 9-11's and Iraq/Afgan wars. So Greg, the idea is not to have an agency that can be better at covertly spying to further imperialism; but to have agencies with policies that foster humanitarian inclusion without economic exploitation. Certainly that is a worthy challenge, on behalf of our worlds well being, for our best and brightest. I hope we can count on you Greg as being part of that group. Note: You may want to review John Perkins: "Confessions of an Economic Hitman", as a basic primer.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#9)
    by roy on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:31:16 AM EST
    kdog, You should be glad there have been "bad guys" around, otherwise all your "good people" would be speaking French, Spanish, German, and Russian. (20% sarcasm by volume)

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#10)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:42:38 AM EST
    Now, now Roy, There is nothing inherently wrong with speaking a different language. I think you would agree though, there is something inherently wrong with policies that inhibit the freedom of choice and self determination. For instance, I may not agree with your sentiment of aligning oneself with so-called "bad guy" policies, but I would fight along side of you, for your right to express yourself. If another country with bigger guns or a bigger economy came to our shores to force regime change, we might also be referred to as insurgents for resisting the process.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#11)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:53:59 AM EST
    If another country with bigger guns or a bigger economy came to our shores to force regime change, we might also be referred to as insurgents for resisting the process.
    Thank you icon...hopefully the Mexican's would still be crossing our border to aid said insurgency! Let the CIA recruit where and who they will. HOWEVER, if a little protest stops them dead in their tracks, what hope do we have for the CIA standing up to terrorism (a really big protest, in some people's opinion?).

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#12)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:58:48 AM EST
    From CounterRecruiter.net: On Thursday the Central Intelligence Agency cancelled a planned event at New York University after activists with the Campus Antiwar Network announced plans to stage a protest. The CIA is involved in a little-known marketing program at NYU and the University of Texas-Pan American (UTPA). The Agency is funding a program where business students develop a marketing plan to help improve the CIA's success in on-campus recruiting. On this pilot project, the CIA is also working the private marketing company EdVenture Partners which has previously worked with the National Security Agency and State Department. "The Collegiate Marketing Program is designed to give students hands-on training about the fundamentals of marketing," reported the Pan American, the student newspaper at the University of Texas. "The idea is that students recruit students for the CIA." In Texas, the program generated controversy because the marketing students had asked professors -- primarily in the departments of Middle Eastern studies and Asian studies -- to use class time to survey students about their attitudes toward the CIA. In a recent report, the Austin Chronicle pointed out that the EdVenture Partners' Web site makes it clear that education is not its only goal: "Students receive an unparalleled educational experience they will put in their resumes, and you leave with what every marketer dreams of ... Results – developed by the target audience for the target audience." ... More

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#13)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:59:55 AM EST
    My take on it is this: We don't like what the CIA is doing. We think their operations are illegal and immoral. But we do think that sometime in the future we will need a CIA. Until the CIA acts within the boundaries of what we declare right, we will protest, disrupt, and agitate against the CIA as much as we please.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#14)
    by kdog on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:00:51 AM EST
    Save the rhetoric roy...you say the CIA has protected us all these years, I say they caused a lot of the threats we now face. Besides, I credit the two large oceans to our left and right for our continued English speaking, not some phantom govt. agency.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#15)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:06:21 AM EST
    So you'll call it a good job if "protest warriors" disrupt recruiters for a peace group? How is disrupting a voluntary action a good thing? This is just nasty - and in no way is it praise-worthy

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#16)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:10:08 AM EST
    Will they have to sign a loyalty oath to this administration in order to become a spook? I would think that, considering the practices currently engaged in by this cabal, that you would not necessarily get the best and brightest going out of their way to sign up with this organization.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#17)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:18:06 AM EST
    I agree with you James. A protest should not disrupt voluntary action. If I understand it correctly, the cancellation nullified the actual protest. So why do you think the event was cancelled? It certainly is a good idea to have an exchange of ideas. The goal would be for a better truth, and a path to better ideals. After all, if it were not for protest for freedom, we would still be a collection of colonies.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#18)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:29:37 AM EST
    I'm just amused that the quoted member of CAN is named "Wrigley-Field." Heh.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#19)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:34:06 AM EST
    The rabble win the day and democracy takes a hit. The rabble would be the first to shriek that their rights were trampled if this were done to them. Hypocrites. The students' rights were violated and the perps should be charged. Next time they can petition their legislators like everyone else.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#20)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:45:42 AM EST
    Doctor Ace your comment brings up a good question. Do decisions about democratic concerns come from a grass roots level, or is for legislative overlords that trump the process? For instance, after the recruiting event was scheduled and correspnding protests planned...were the students consulted when it was decided to cancel the recruiting venue?

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#21)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 11:53:04 AM EST
    kdog - Students do dumb things all the time. Stopping doing them is called "growing up." Something I invite you to consider. The Left led the charge in the 70's to change the CIA, and in the process, gravely disabled it. Yet that same Left complained bitterly that we didn't have good information on what was happening in the ME. (:Tom:) They will have to sign an oath to serve and protect the constitution. Would that be a problem for you? teran1212 writes - "Until the CIA acts within the boundaries of what we declare right,..." Given that we live in a constututional republic with democrtatic insitutions, and given that we have a representative government that is properly elected... What possible right do you have to try and contardict an effort to improve the defense of the country?

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#22)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:01:42 PM EST
    The CIA is not perfect. That is all the more reason for sensible people to start working there. We surely have an enemy that wants to kill us...so we need an organization to find out what the hell is going on. Granted..the CIA hasn't been that good at it. Do smart people enroll at NYU? I think the CIA could use some.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#23)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:05:44 PM EST
    PPJ - your reaching knows no bounds... You blame THE LEFT for the CIA's downward spiral. I suppose hippies were the ones recruiting half-baked Cuban refugees to assasinate Castro...

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#24)
    by roy on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:05:49 PM EST
    kdog,
    ...you say the CIA has protected us all these years, I say they caused a lot of the threats we now face.
    The CIA was created in 1947. Since then, have things gotten better or worse for us? How many Americans died in war before and since 1947? I'm not crediting the CIA with all the niceties of the modern world, or defending specific policies. But if the CIA is creating threats as you say, then they seem to be less serious threats than those the U.S. faced in the preceding 150 years.
    Besides, I credit the two large oceans to our left and right for our continued English speaking....
    If oceans were sufficient to ensure security, then Native Americans would still be in charge here and Japan would not have been defeated in WWII.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#25)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:09:46 PM EST
    PPJ wrote" What possible right do you have to try and contardict an effort to improve the defense of the country?" Facilitating violent overthrows and invading sovereign countries doesn't exactly make us safer. Any efforts to uphold international law, and to enforce our own constitutional system of checks and balances would actually be an effort in the defense of our country. Note: 1) recall 9-11 and 2)consider the currency backlash against the dollar in favor of the Euro as evidence of the error our policies.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#26)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:12:13 PM EST
    You should be glad there have been "bad guys" around, otherwise all your "good people" would be speaking French, Spanish, German, and Russian. Racist comment of the day.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#27)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:23:58 PM EST
    "Racist comment of the day" Mindless dogma comment of the day.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#28)
    by Andreas on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:29:26 PM EST
    It is interesting that several comments above support the CIA. But those comments do not change the nature of that organisation: Bush visits the CIA: reassuring America’s Murder Inc. By Patrick Martin, 9 March 2005

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#29)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:37:05 PM EST
    CIA/FBI/DEA/NSA..Main drug dealers of the world. Hey Bush! where is bin laden? working with the main drug dealers in our non government? for god? and the one world non ideals? don't join the CIA Murderers and drug dealers.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#30)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:38:31 PM EST
    (:Tom:) They will have to sign an oath to serve and protect the constitution. Would that be a problem for you? Not at all! I do have some concerns about the interviews they are giving where they ask potential employees about their political views, and getting rid of anyone who is not a Bush Fellator At Work, though...

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#31)
    by Quaker in a Basement on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:40:49 PM EST
    The CIA was created in 1947. Since then, have things gotten better or worse for us? How many Americans died in war before and since 1947?
    The CIA's operations have lead to the deaths of thousands of people who don't happen to be Americans. Don't they count?

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#32)
    by Fr33d0m on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 12:47:11 PM EST
    I have an apple tree in the back yard. Every now and then it produces a bad apple so I think I'll destroy all apple trees. Yes I now that doesn't match the comments against the CIA exactly, but it as close as I can come. If the issue is that we shouldn't have a CIA, then work to shut it down. Otherwise what harm does their attempt to recruit really do. Yes I know about all the "Black Arts" stuff, and I do believe there ought to be truth in advertising, but I'd bet a small percentage of agents work in black areas and that most of them are analyists. Last time I looked we needed smart analyists with big balls.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#33)
    by Patrick on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 01:29:52 PM EST
    Kdog says "Besides, I credit the two large oceans to our left and right for our continued English speaking, not some phantom govt. agency." I say that those oceans apparently didn't help the native Americans and that was at a time with a lot less technology. While the CIA doesn't get all the credit, a strong U.S of A is the reason we're not subject to some other form of government against our will.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#34)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 02:18:56 PM EST
    mfox - I invite you to do some serious study of the Church Committee and the fruits of its efforts. You can then follow that with an understanding of what Carter's Director of the CIA. Adm. Stansfil Turner did, and then following benign neglect of the "human intellitence" side of the business by all the Presidents who followed. And yes, that includes Reagan and B1. What the Left accomplished was to establish as a fact that we could not deal with "dirty" actors, and we in turn, severely restricted how we funded, etc., these people. So the vaunted electronics took over, and the feeling was that the "eye in the sky" could see all. Well, it may have had good vision, but its ears were certainly clogged, and all became dependnent upon analysis of mountains of information. The result was some rude surprises. When you start asking people to start divining intent with little more information than available to the Oracles of Delphi do not be surprised if they do a variety of incorrect things, and lacking any hard information, have a tendancy to tell the listener what they think the listener wants to hear. Dearest No Name - That is your opinion, but when someone starts to interfere in defense efforts, that is not simple protests.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#35)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 03:46:11 PM EST
    Do those posting here know how the U.S. intelligence community is organized? And how does this opposition to recruitment by the CIA square with supporting the soldiers while opposing the war? It is, after all, the soldiers who do the killing.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#36)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 03:49:06 PM EST
    icon (11:30) I post here as often as I can and most time agree with TL, but I have to say I disagree on this one. We need change? of course but lets blame and protest the ones that are in charge...

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#37)
    by jondee on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 04:15:08 PM EST
    Roy - "Your good people would be speaking French,Russian etc" There are days when I think they are. Btw, Are you suggesting that C.I.A has prevented massive invasions of the U.S that would otherwise have taken place?

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#38)
    by jondee on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 05:04:08 PM EST
    PPJ - The C.I.A did it to themselves; everything comes out in the wash sooner or later in a society founded upon democratic princepals, though you may wish it to be otherwise. When the C.I.A makes it its business to "insure foreign markets" by working to keep intact systems that keep the majority of a population dirt poor and cowed and intimidated, it helps create revoloutionary movements which it has to "combat". As long as people are born who think and question and have a strong moral sense - your disobedient "left" for example - there will be Church Committees. Smell the coffee.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#39)
    by roy on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 06:28:19 PM EST
    Are you suggesting that C.I.A has prevented massive invasions of the U.S that would otherwise have taken place?
    Not the CIA specifically, but distasteful action in general. The draft during WWI and WWII, for instance. The CIA probably had some real effect on the Soviet Union's expansion, but I can't say exactly what. Maybe we just made them mad.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#40)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Mon Apr 04, 2005 at 10:24:17 PM EST
    jondee - You make charges, but offer nothing beyond what used to pass as freshman chatter. The CIA is an intelligence gathering arm of the government, and if you can provide any link otherwise, beyond said hip and racy charges, bring them out. I mean surely you meant to bring in Apocalypse Now, the drug connection in Arkansas, JFK's death, and other urban myths. Many people have died serving in the CIA, and many people have been saved. Perhaps 3000 or so would be alive in NYC if the organization had been more viable. So I want you to understand why I show this anger with you. I have read your complaints about our government time and again, but when someone tries to change it, tries to improve it, you sneer and try to act so cool and knowing. Not everyone in government is good, but the vast majority are. And most do want a better government. So why don't you support change rather than condem it. After all, change is the only way the situation can improve.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#41)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 07:44:15 AM EST
    mfox- except for Casey, most every Director has been more enarmored with technology than human inteligence- and our current situation is a direct result of it. Tenet realized the shortcomings, and made some steps to rectify the situation- but it will take years to get the CIA where it should be. PPJ- The Church Commision did a lot of harm to the CIA, but the most damaging rule placed on them was the Torrecelli Amendment which prevented the CIA from dealing with anyone "shady". The Torch single handedly wrecked our Humint capabilities. Ironicly enough, Bob Torecelli couldn't be a source for the CIA if those idiotic rules were still in place.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#42)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 08:17:22 AM EST
    Gery Owen - Good point. But most will not understand cause and effect to understand that such things destroys organizations. However. The President who enabled Torreccelli bears much blame.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#43)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 09:25:40 AM EST
    PPJ and Gerry believe (or would have you believe) that the CIA has been hamstrung because it's been unable to deal "with anyone dirty." I know, they are funny guys, aren't they? Funny troubling, not funny ha-ha.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#44)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 02:57:06 PM EST
    PPJ- You are right- Clinton signed off on it! He didn't do the Co any favors, thats for sure. Tenet and Woolsley take a lot of unfair heat, but they were both handed a crappy set of circumstances and were not allowed to do much to change it (at least not until 9/11). Hooboy- Naive a bit? Terrorism is a people business, not something you track by satellite. Combatting it requires people on the ground and people in the know to share information. The Torch made it bureaucraticly impossible for us to get ANY information from the types of people who could tell us what ship captain smuggled in some people/weapons/explosives or who was meeting with who at the local dive bar. It was foolish and shortsighted.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#45)
    by Talkleft Visitor on Tue Apr 05, 2005 at 09:05:33 PM EST
    HooBoy - Read some history and take politics out of foreign affairs. It will help you immensely to understand that the radical anti-war Left has been in the business of appeasment for more than 40 years. What changed was they siezed effective control of the Demo Party in '76.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#46)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 02:37:02 PM EST
    PPJ - Read some history indeed. Your play dumb and repeat talkling-points act wears very thin after a while. How many documented instances are there of the C.I.A interfering in the democratic processes of other nations? Almost too numerous to mention. Your only defense of this seems to be "self-interest"- the same ethos espoused by the mugger and the pimp. You can do better and we can do better.Try some independent, objective thinking. The ruthless logic of "pure" self-interest virtually assures irradiation.

    Re: Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU (none / 0) (#47)
    by jondee on Thu Apr 07, 2005 at 02:47:37 PM EST
    PPJ - "You make charges". You know d*mn well what Im talking about,so why the dumb act? The instances of the C.I.A meddling in the democratic processes of other nations are too numerous and well documented to go into here. In the past the only defense that Ive seen you give for this is "national self-interest" - self-interest,ethos of the mugger and the pimp and non-sustainable in the long-term. You can do better and WE can do better.

    Protest Stops CIA Recruiting Event at NYU | 46 comments (46 topical)