MSO members react to new flight guidelines
Security measures put in place by the Obama administration after the Christmas day bombing plot are seen as ineffective by some Muslim MU students.
The guidelines, which apply to 14 countries, mean any person flying into the U.S. from these countries, which are mostly located in the Middle East, will be required to undergo enhanced security screenings. Anyone who meets certain physical characteristics stereotypical to certain ethnicities will also be subject to additional screening.
Although Muslim Student Organization spokesperson Bushra Naz said she has never felt personally victimized or subject to profiling, she said after 9/11 many people went along with new security measures.
“The Muslim community accepts that security is just trying to keep everyone safe,” Naz said.
She said now that another incident has happened, it might be a sign that profiling is ineffective.
MSO President Malik al-Jarad said it is very hard to profile every Muslim because it is the physical appearance of a person that is typically stereotyped in this situation, and every Muslim does not portray the same stereotypical physical characteristics.
Thomas Anthony, U.S.C Aviation Safety and Security program director, said new ways to enhance security include several options.
He said a low-powered X-Ray technology used for full body scans and an electronic device that detects any traces of explosives are both additional types of security measures.
Anthony also said additional security measures should always be added and changed in order to create better security systems because terrorists are constantly monitor these measures.
In addition to these measures, he said profiling was necessary.
“You can’t really treat everyone the same all the time because we don’t have the resources,” Anthony said.