Celia Fisher to talk ethics of surveillance on Al Jazeera America

What does it mean to live in a surveillance state? The Al Jazeera America program, Fault Lines, investigates the fallout over the National Security Agency's mass data collection programs in the U.S. and abroad. 

Ethics expert, Celia Fisher, Ph.D., the Mary Ward Doty Endowed University Chair and Professor of Psychology, is featured in the program, which premieres on Al Jazeera America on Friday, Nov.1, at 10:30 p.m. ET. The program will repeat on Al Jazeera America on Nov. 2, at 7p ET, and then air on Al Jazeera English on Nov. 6, at 6:30p ET.

In the episode, Fisher discusses the psychological effects and ethical implications of surveillance. The program will also feature in-depth interviews with journalist Glenn Greenwald and NSA director Keith Alexander.

- Gina Vergel

Fordham Alumni, Students Represent at ICCS

Fordham security chief John Carroll. To his left is a confiscated Warhol forgery,
part of a Center Gallery art show on display for the conference.
Photo by Tom Stoelker

With nearly 500 guests representing 35 countries, this year’s International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS), hosted by Fordham and the FBI, got underway on Aug. 5. On arrival at the Lincoln Center campus, guests were greeted by a welcome sign plastered with a sold out sticker.

Though the registration area filled quickly with conference visitors, there were plenty of Fordham security experts on hand as well. Kevin J. Kelly, FCRH '84, was among a handful of students who were the first to major in computer science during the early 1980s. He studied under ICCS co-organizer D. Frank Hsu, Ph.D., the Clavius Distinguished Professor of Science and professor of computer and information science. 

Kelly went on to work for the NYPD and  for Citibank. He teaches computer and information science as an adjunct professor at Fordham and points out the importance of the academy joining the cyber security conversation.

"It's a whole new paradigm and the University plays an important role in training future security experts," he said.

Cody Brown, FCLC '13 confers with D. Frank Hsu, Ph.D.

"Having something of this scale here at Fordham is major," said Cody Brown, FCLC '13, another alumnus who is assisting Hsu at the conference. "There are other conferences like this, but the stature of this is second to none."

Junior Katy Venizlos, a communications major at Fordham College Rose Hill, is one of several student volunteers working ICCS. Though her major slightly veers from the security interests of the attendees, she too understood the importance of the venture.

"It's good for Fordham to integrate education with the government and it's a great opportunity for the students," she said.

Asked if she was a little awed by the sheer number of G-men and women filing into the building, she shrugged.

"My dad is in the FBI, so I'm used to it."

-Tom Stoelker

Injured Rose Hill Hawk UPDATE

An injured red-tailed hawk rescued from Fordham’s Rose Hill campus on July 30 has died, according to wildlife rehabilitators, who say a necropsy will be performed to try and determine the cause of death.

The New York City Police Department was called to the Rose Hill campus Friday morning to help rescue one of the campus's red-tailed hawks, which was injured near Duane Library. Officers had to wear protective gear to shield themselves from the bird's mate, which was not allowing anyone to get close to its injured counterpart. We'd like to thank Ken McCarthy of Fordham Security for sharing some pictures of the scene.

For more coverage, see Police Respond to Injured Hawk on Rose Hill Campus, on Fordham's home page.

Updated Sunday, August 2, 2009; 11:31 a.m.



Emergency Services parked near the library



Officers gathered around the bird



Officers preparing to put the hawk in a cage



The officers had to be careful to avoid the bird's talons.

—Patrick Verel