Students rallied on Friday afternoon outside Johnson Hall to protest what they said was the University’s lack of openness regarding CIA Director George Tenet’s recent visit to campus.

Tenet spoke last week at a meeting of the Association of American Universities, which brought together university presidents from around the nation and Canada.
“The administration made a point not to inform students at all,” ASUO shared governance director Tim Johnson said. “It’s totally inappropriate not to tell people ahead of time about those meetings.”
AAU spokesman Barry Toiv defended the association’s decision to keep the meeting a secret.
“We do not publicize our meetings ahead of time because they are intended to be private discussions among our presidents and between our presidents and their guests,” Toiv said.
Toiv said the private meetings “allow for an unfettered exchange of views.”
University Romance Languages Professor Regina Psaki, who spoke at the rally, said the secrecy surrounding Tenet’s visit was more for Tenet’s comfort than anything else.
“Why is it the University’s job to protect the director of the CIA against embarrassing questions about our foreign policy?” Psaki said.
In his speech, Tenet discussed research universities and their role in the war on terrorism, according to Toiv.
“Director Tenet acknowledged the key role that research universities play in enhancing the country’s knowledge and understanding of other nations and cultures, which is a critical element in the nation’s effort to confront the problem of terrorism,” Toiv said.
Toiv added that research universities help fight terrorism with science.
“Research universities are among the leading institutions conducting research that is needed to counteract biological and chemical forms of terrorism,” Toiv said.
ASUO President Maddy Melton wondered whether the University is conducting research related to the war on terrorism.
“I want to know if that’s happening,” Melton said. “I think that’s why (Tenet) was here, to talk to all 60 university presidents, to talk about research. I think it’s really important that we know what was said in there.”
The protesters demanded a transcript of Tenet’s speech and an apology from University President Dave Frohnmayer.
Harry Battson, associate vice president for University Strategic Communications, said he doubted a transcript of Tenet’s speech existed.
Battson also responded to Johnson’s allegation that the University spent $10,000 to prepare for Tenet’s visit.
“There was an effort under (Vice President for Administration) Dan Williams to make the campus look as good as possible,” Battson said, noting landscaping work and greater-than-usual efforts by janitorial staff to keep the campus clean. “That had to do with wanting to showcase for the university presidents. That had nothing to do with George Tenet.”
Johnson said the secrecy surrounding the meeting contradicted the spirit of the University.
“It strikes at the ideals this campus was founded on,” Johnson said. “Anything on this campus that seeks to neglect the input of students, faculty or staff is anti-democratic and weakens the notion that this campus is committed to collaborative government.”
One student said few people would have a problem with Tenet’s visit if it weren’t for the secrecy surrounding it.
“Without that air of mystery, students would welcome them more to campus,” sophomore Sarah Koski said.