ANU warns of lack of security at universities
Australian National University’s director of terrorism studies, Clive Williams, has warned that universities are not taking enough steps towards preventing terrorists from learning dangerous information (including, apparently, highly dangerous “leading-edge computer technology”). Williams decries the fact that universities have given learning a higher priority than security. We await with interest Mr Williams’ suggestion on how to deal with other dangerous institutions such as bookstores, computer retailers and libraries.
Of top concern was research into chemical and biological agents and study of leading-edge computer technology.He said universities could give researchers the capacity and knowledge to produce toxic chemical agents.
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Mr Williams said as far as he was aware, Australian universities did not conduct background checks on prospective foreign students or Australian students studying security-sensitive areas.
”(Universities are) more interested in getting students in the classroom,” Mr Williams said. “Security is a secondary issue for them.”
Australia was particularly strong in areas such as leading-edge computer technology, and terrorists studying in Australia could learn our vulnerabilities through study.
– Herald Sun, Terrorists may be at unis.