University's 'preparedness' validates culture of fear

Most students pass by www.princeton.edu several times a day. Recently, they may have noticed that under "Headlines" and "Announcements" (I've never understood the difference) there is now a new section called "Emergency Preparedness." Following this link, one can obtain a host of information on cheerful topics like SARS, terrorism and other horrors the University is dutifully guarding against. Students needn't worry; while the Department of Homeland Security may have lowered the warning level from orange to yellow, "Princeton University's heightened security measures remain in place, and the University is well prepared to respond to emergency situations." This is important, senior vice president for administration Charles Kalmbach reminds us, because "Princeton, like many national treasures, is susceptible to being targeted" (although "we have not received any terrorist threats," he acknowledges).

With due respect to the well-placed intentions of Mr. Kalmbach and the fine individuals who manage our website, I think most will agree that the "Emergency Preparedness" focus is excessive. I claim no special insight into terrorists' minds, but am fairly confident that our bucolic patch of New Jersey will not come under attack any time in the near future. And even if Osama and Co. were to decide that Old Nassau is a more tempting target than, say, the White House or the Capital, it is unclear to me how an extra heading on the homepage will keep us safe. (Perhaps the terrorists will be frightened off by the very ugliness of the word "preparedness," one of post-9/11 English's more unfortunate semantic superstars.)

This is not to say that the University should not be ready to deal with any unforeseen unpleasantness; I would think it lax if it were not. Indeed, the legal liability alone is reason for action. The point, however, is that pasting our "preparedness" all over our website simply validates the culture of fear that has engulfed this nation. We have passed the level of reasonable public education and reached downright silliness.

Worse, the website irresponsibly overstates the danger Princeton faces from terrorism. Were I a prospective student visiting the website today, I would learn that Professor Rosen is to be nominated to the President's Council of Economic Advisors, students are working with professional gospel musicians in a special atelier and the University responded to lower homeland security levels on April 16. Is this really the image we want to project to the world?

Fortunately, students do not seem to have taken the warnings much to heart, if they are even aware of them in the first place. In the furor of papers, exams, house parties and summer internships, we are much to busy to worry about unsubstantiated threats to our personal safety. This, I believe, represents a far more realistic appraisal of Princeton's place in the War on Terror.

So why does the University think it necessary to make such a fuss over being prepared? Much of the blame can be placed with the Bush Administration, whose fear mongering has set a bad example for the nation. An "Emergency Preparedness" section on a university web page may be silly, but a color-coded threat level scheme is downright ridiculous. And while there are political incentives to appear to be doing something at the national level — even if it's not particularly effective — Princeton has no similar excuse.

Two small colleges to the north provide alternate approaches to the question of preparedness reporting. Harvard's website features a non-ostentatious, almost tasteful link to key information. Yale, accustomed to life in a dangerous world, makes no mention of the issue. This is one case, it seems, where Princeton could learn from these institutions.

Tom Hale is a Wilson School major from South Kingston, R.I.