ISU students’ mail and e-mail may be being read, and students may be subject to spying by FBI informants because of the USA Patriot Act, said Barbara Mack, associate professor of journalism and communication.

The Patriot Act and how it affects Iowa will be discussed at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union by a panel of people from Iowa. This panel discussion is part of the 2004 Institute on National Affairs Lecture Series “Is the Bill of Rights in Jeopardy?”

Mack, moderator for the panel, said at Iowa State there are a number of students, including international students, who are studying areas such as engineering and physics that could relate to terrorism and bomb-making, and these are the students who could be subject to being spied on.

“People tend to not think about it until they realize how local it is, but from my point of view the real impact of the Patriot Act is all local,” Mack said.

Mack is in agreement with one of the panelists, Ben Stone, executive director of the Iowa Civil Liberties Union. She said Stone will certainly be arguing against the Patriot Act.

Panelist Stephen O’Meara, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Iowa, which includes Ames, said the panel will discuss suggested revisions to the Patriot Act and the merits of those revisions.

“We are working with Congress to tighten up vague standards,” he said.

O’Meara said more than just the Patriot Act will be discussed.

“It would be fun if panelists could talk about plans — in context of people that are flying and different law enforcement regulations as well,” he said.

Pro-Patriot Act panelist Charles Larson, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa, said the Patriot Act is very important in its effort to prevent terrorist acts. He said the act allows law enforcement agencies and defense organizations to share information and to use new technology.

“It allows us, within the Constitution, to conduct research to prevent more terrorist actions,” Larson said. He is also bringing an Army lawyer to answer additional questions that the other panelists cannot.

Larson said the discussion will be educational and worthwhile to attend and will resolve a lot of people’s questions.

Mack said it’s important for students to attend because some think they have nothing to hide; therefore, the Patriot Act doesn’t matter to them — which she said isn’t the issue.

“The issue is what controls, or what lack of controls, do we have on the government,” she said.