WikiLeaks: An Education Issue as Well

WikiLeaks is a hot topic these days. And that hotness extends to the education field as well. According to a U.S. State Department official, talking about WikiLeaks on Facebook or Twitter can endanger a student's job prospects.

Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs sent an email to its students last week advising them of the State Department official's recommendation. The official is an alumnus of the school. According to the email, students who intend to apply for federal jobs may jeopardize their prospects by posting links to or discussing WikiLeaks on social media.

"[The alumnus] recommends that you DO NOT post links to these documents nor make comments on social media sites such as Facebook or through Twitter," the Office of Career Services stated in its email. "Engaging in these activities would call into question your ability to deal with confidential information, which is part of most positions with the federal government."

While the recommendation to avoid linking to or republishing the documents is certainly advisable, students at Columbia were generally irritated at the advice against discussing WikiLeaks on social media sites.

One masters student remarked: "They seem to be unable to make the distinction between having an opinion and having a contractual obligation to keep a secret."
According to other reports, administrators at Georgetown University have released a similar email to their students.

So what do you think: Should students be allowed to discuss WikiLeaks? Does doing so threaten their career options?

Photo Credit: Brennan Moore