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Western Carolinian Volume 61 Number 05 (06)

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  • 17 Western Carolinian September 28,1995 Editorials eroton inch, pity THE GOVERNMENT IS COMING AND THEY'RE ARMED WITH COMPUTERS!! by Kevin Cassells Staff Columnist Instead of drowning you with opinionated blabber and whining (that's a later column), I feel compelled to inform you about some of the crazy things that take place in this ever-technological man - made microcosm we call Earth. It's 1995, and if you're not computer literate, then you're way behind. Better yet, if you're unaware of the extreme potential and capability of the modern day computer, then you're in the dark ages. Advances in computer science are made every second, therefore the computer world has become a computer universe, a universe that allows the powers that be to kep a way too watchful eye on all of us...and on each other. Upon returning to Cullowhee this wnester, my good pal James Gray handed mean article from the Washington Post, revealing startling facts involving the ^parent suicide of White House aide ]JJ-ent Foster, who died in the summer of I . ,Foster was a long time Clinton family W'dante. He was a member of the NS A a 10na' Security Agency). He was one of a,s7J0n's'OP officials. He was cau° h ?dgedly' an Israeli sPy. a spy who got 8W by computer hackers working for the Umted States government. ForteJameS Norman- a senior ^itor at es magazine, recalled the Foster case as most amazing, frightening story I've Ver worked on in my career." with colrT1 F°Ster was Providing Israel niiaential information and secrets of diligence m return for large amounts of monev th ge amounts ot y "at were being discreetly deposited into his Swiss bank account. It just so happens that a group of federal computer hackers called the Fifth Column were snooping around in a database of Israel's intelligence service when they surprisingly came across Foster's name. The baffling part about it is that they were given complete authorization to do so. Apparently, it is routine for government hackers to bust into foreign intelligence databases. Once they discovered money flowing into Foster's account on a very frequent basis, they looked further into the matter to find that Foster was making secret trips to Switzerland to withdraw the money. In short, Foster got busted hard. The hackers set up a mock transaction and when Foster went to Switzerland, he found that all of his money had been transferred into the US Treasury. Within days, Foster was under investigation for espionage. Within a few more days, Foster was dead. My uncle, a former Russian translator, Korean War vet, and computer genius, informed me that United States computer hackers break into accounts every day. Phony accounts and transactions are set up, every detail of a business or corporation is secretly monitored to a T, and foreign countries are under computer surveillance that plunges deep into top secret territory. The Fifth Column has cleaned out hundreds of bank accounts belonging to high-level US political figures, including the biggest names in politics from both parties. The take is currently nearing $3 billion. If a top-notch government official isn't safe from the looming eye of a computer, what makes us think we are? Last semester while setting up for an A-Frame blowout, some friends and I heard a disturbing one hour commentary on NPR about the smart-card, a single tool of monetary value that will be used to represent all financial transactions, from paying the mortgage on your house to buying a Mr. Pibb in the dorm lobby, and it's right on our heels. The expert analyst explaining the smart card estimated full activity by the year 2005, only a decade away. Scary. It's downright chilling to think that every purchase we make will be in a file. Many people say it is a major invasion of privacy to have every move monitored by Uncle Sam. Others support the idea of a smart card because it will supposedly kill drug transactions and other black market dealings. However, as the technology of a nation advances, the criminology of a nation advances right along with it. Drug deals and bank robberies and other good ol' American hobbies will always be with us, but on a much more sophisticated level. Who knows? Maybe the Campus Police won't need those shiny new cars to find out the next time you smoke a fatty with your friends. It is breathtaking to fathom what a major part computers play in our everyday lives, but did you ever think it would get to the point where you are intimidated or feel threatened by the power of a computer? I feel like the entire human race (animals aren't safe either), especially our nation, is being closed in on at every possible angle by the powers that unfortunately be, thanks to the infinite capability of their little keyboards. Yeah, I've got computer claustrophobia. Maybe you do too. If you don't yet, I'm sure you will. •Dorm Elevator Etiquette^ l^ator Etiquette: in ScottH n6 °f y°U Who use the e,evalors With a lj I'l W0uld like t0 Provide you riding 0n {? thinSs we D° NOT do while obviOUs,^in8: GROSS! Whoever did this, skilis No| no uP-bringing or social Probably °nly 'S this disgust'ng. but it spreads unwanted germs. Not to mention the fact that it is nauseating because the stench is still there. I'm sorry that your mother did not teach you better. 2: Spitting on doors: This, too, is disgusting and could promote unwanted germs. Was it your goal to gag the passengers? 3. Leaving trash: There is a wonderful invention called TRASH CAN. Most people were taught to use them at an early age. 4. Pushing all the buttons: Ha.ha? Ha, ha HELL! This is not funny. Especially to those who are in a hurry. Folks, we're in college now. Time to grow up and at least try to resemble a responsible adult. Most importantly, show respect for others. If you can't do that, you don't belong here. by Lisa Temple The i*» _■_ Western Carolinian Lynn Jones Editor in Chief Associate Editors •KyleShufelt News •Scott Francis Features •Jason Queen Sports •Katherine Torrence Entertainment & Classifieds •Sean Corcoran Photography •Lee Ann Gibson Advertising Director •James Gray Environmental •Tracy Hart Copy Editor •Earle Wheeler Invisible Academy •Colin Gooder Graphic Designing Director Paste-up Directors Cliff Meeks& Webb Lyons Office Director Christine Wilcox, & J.P. Rollins Circulation Brad Chappell StaffWriters Tony Taylor, Bryan Hunter, Kevin McPherson, Tony Castleberry, Phoebe Esmon, Chris Carrier, Andrea Hahn, Jon Lauterer, Brian Clark, Chris Turpin, Ann Wright, Kevin Riley Photographers Marcus Demaaijer, Brian Bock, S. Sampson, Jenny Webb, Kim Fagan, James Gray Carolinian Advisor John Moore The Carolinian is WCU's student newpaper. It is produced entirely by students. Deadline for submissions is the Thursday before each publication.
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