Re-posting on WikiLeaks could affect job prospects
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For some students, posting links to WikiLeaks on social networking sites might be another hurdle to landing a job in an already competitive job market.
WikiLeaks, an organization working to provide government and leaked information to the public via the Internet, released additional confidential government documents to numerous media organizations last week, and has since sparked a worldwide debate.
Students planning to find work or internships in the federal government after graduation were recommended not to post about or comment on WikiLeaks on social networking sites by college career advisers across the country — including at MSU.
Jaimie Hutchison, field career consultant for James Madison College, said an e-mail was sent Friday advising MSU students against posting statements on social networking websites about WikiLeaks.
However, the information in the e-mail is not based on any official James Madison College or MSU policies, she said.
Although the decision is up to students, they should be aware of possible implications of their actions, Hutchison said.
“I don’t know what the outcome of this will be — I just want students to have a heads up,” she said.
“The important thing for me as a career adviser is to make sure students have the information I do.”
The statement was influenced by a similar letter sent to some students at the University of California, Berkeley, Hutchison said.
The e-mail was addressed to students looking to apply for federal jobs and noted posting or commenting on WikiLeaks might “call into question your ability to deal with confidential information, which is part of most positions with the federal government.”
Despite the warnings, international relations senior Horia Dijmarescu said he will continue posting links to WikiLeaks on Facebook. He also said he does not plan on working in the federal government after he graduates.
“I think the university, again, is kind of trying to help students, in that students should understand the ramifications of their actions,” Dijmarescu said. “(But) honestly, when I saw the e-mail, I was a little disappointed.”
Hutchison said although the federal government has not yet taken an official stance on re-posting the leaked information, linking to or commenting on WikiLeaks’ documents might affect students in the future.
“It’s something that may come up in a background check,” she said.
“Students will be handling a lot of confidential information for the federal government. … I would encourage them to talk to the agencies.”
After the release of confidential government documents and cables to the public through WikiLeaks, how the information is used and published now is considered controversial, said Matt Zierler, an assistant professor of international relations.
“There are rules about dispersing the information,” Zierler said.
“That information was made public when it shouldn’t have been, so the question arises, ‘What do we make of this information?’”
So far, the leaked information does not seem to be a direct threat to national security, but it might lead to further restrictions on government information, Zierler said.
Still, the university should take a firm stance to protect freedom of information, Dijmarescu said.
“I think that universities … have been historically — and should remain — a place where ideas can be exchanged freely,” he said.
“I think the university needs to take a real stance for freedom of information and freedom of study.”
Commentary
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what a load of crap
(12/07/10 12:37am)Report
There’s absolutely no precedent for this kind of thing. Furthermore it would be highly illegal to discriminate in hiring based upon someone’s opinions. There wouldn’t be over 800,000 people with top secret clearance if they screened for loonies. The federal government sure has its fair share of them.
What email
(12/07/10 1:22am)Report
never got an email… about this.
I honestly think wikileaks has been blown out of proportion, what about my opinion about the BCS, will this affect my ability to get a job?
Tony
(12/07/10 2:52am)Report
It’s not about posting your opinion, its about posting links to classified government documents.
I’m on board. Then again, I wouldn’t mind them starting the draft up again. Young whippersnappers need to learn some respect.
Alumn
(12/07/10 3:16am)Report
I think the posting on the topic was completely lacking in detail. The issue is accessing information you do not have clearance for. I know it’s all over the web but it relates to if you want a job in government that requires a security clearance. Wikileaks will definitely be something you’re asked about on a polygraph test, if you’ve ever viewed material you’re not authorized too etc. By avoiding it, it will make your security clearance process easier, relatively speaking. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should; like accepting known stolen goods etc.
Go Green!
Pachamama
(12/07/10 9:38am)Report
Good story, though might have been better if reporter had interviewed a few more MSU profs/officials on this. While career counselor was acting responsibly by warning students of repercussions of posting about wikilieaks by a paranoid government, I applaud the student who is exercising his freedom of speech by discussing this information. Fact is, the stuff is now public so it’s pointless/Orwellian to punish people for discussing it now. Instead of focusing on hypothetical harm of these leaks, why not focus on very real harm done by our poorly thought out foreign policies?
JMC IR Grad
(12/07/10 1:23pm)Report
Horia Dijmarescu: You’re embarrassing JMC and the IR major. If you comprehend that which you learn with respect to your major, then you would immediately realize that some information is and should be kept secret for legitimate and good reasons.
hr practitioner
(12/07/10 2:41pm)Report
What a Load of Crap’s statement that it is “highly illegal” to not hire someone because of his or her opinion is absolutely incorrect. Moreover, if an employer wanted to it could refuse to hire someone who merely possess a social networking account. Impractical, yes. Unorthodox, yes. Unrealistic, yes. Illegal, no. Companies decline to hire people all the time based on perfectly legal activities. So unless Title VII has been changed to include “social networking” or “people with an opinion” among the protected classes, or enacted some statute specifically protecting people engaged in those activities, I would encourage students to carefully consider the advice.
Bill
(12/07/10 2:45pm)Report
hr practitioner: Thank you for calling out that person. It is amusing how many people preach as if they actually know the law.
anon
(12/07/10 9:18pm)Report
Work for the government? Fuck that.
Wikileaks FTW!
billy
(12/07/10 9:22pm)Report
how about writing an article on the CONTENT of wikileaks perhaps..?
MSUjunior
(12/07/10 10:51pm)Report
@hr practitioner
Actually it is illegal for the federal government to hire based on political opinion. You may have heard the Justice Department had some problems following that rule. Of course they had problems punishing themselves for it was well…
JMC alum
(12/08/10 5:35pm)Report
@IR Grad, how unsurprising of you to throw around “good” and “legitimate” like they are universally agreed upon terms. No one is in any position to declare Wikileaks “good” or “bad.” Way to go using none of your Madison theory and all of your Madison snobbery.
JMC IR Alumnus
(12/08/10 5:49pm)Report
@IR Grad: Your immature personal attack and accompanying mindless defense of government secrecy speaks volumes about your inability to comprehend your alleged curriculum.
I’m proud of Horia for his willingness to stand up for the rights we seem to have forgotten we possess in this country. I will stand against anyone who attempts to curtail those rights, as Madison did.
Peter
(12/09/10 11:06pm)Report
Hi Americans … bogus freedom.
Free yourselves from your lying government.
Career Professional
(12/10/10 12:28pm)Report
I see both sides of the point. Students should decide what to say and do. The statement seems to ask students to consider how it may affect federal government jobs and internships, specifically security clearence. I understand this is a hot topic. If you are intersted in working for one of these agencies, contact them to see if this would slow down or stop your chances. If you are not intersted in working for the federal government, it does not seem to apply.