The new student privacy rules proposed by the Department of Education will provide key updates to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and expand communication on the university level.
According to the CT, the proposal would "provide immunity for school administrators who release private information, as long as the given information is directly related to the health and safety of society."
The proposal comes as a result of the report issued by federal officials last June titled "Report to the President on Issues Raised by the Virginia Tech Tragedy." The document analyzes the breakdown in communication that occurred on Tech's campus last April and the lack of important information released to the public out of fear of violating privacy laws.
According to Jim Bradshaw, spokesman for the Department of Education, the proposal comes as a result of schools requesting clarity on when it is appropriate to release information in the best interest of students.
"This is an effort to make crystal clear to schools that they may release records of student who are considered to be a danger to themselves or others," Bradshaw said to the CT.
The proposal also allows for administrators to share relevant information with students' parents in the event of an emergency situation.
These proposals are a great step in ensuring greater student safety. While ultimately it is up to us to keep ourselves safe, allowing administrators immunity in disclosing private information related to health and safety is crucial in keeping us all safe.
Seung-Hui Cho's mental health had been questioned long before April 16 occurred, but because of the rules surrounding disclosure of information, Tech felt its hands were tied.
The inability of the administration to take action against a dangerous student ultimately allowed for the lives of 32 innocent people to be taken. The health and safety of society should be given priority over all else.
If releasing the information of someone means preventing something bad from happening to the student in trouble or anyone around them, then it is well worth it.
When it comes to sharing information with our parents, of course there are some things we don't want them to know, such as that C in biology class, or withdrawing from a course; however, we believe that our safety is something that our parents do have a right to know. If we show dangerous tendencies or an inability to take care of ourselves, parents should be at least notified.
Hopefully these proposals will pass, creating greater clarification for universities regarding releasing student information and keeping all students safer.
The editorial board is composed of Amie Steele, Joe Kendall, Saira Haider, Laurel Colella and Sara Mitchell.