TheOtherView
Airport security still in need of improvement

A 20-year-old student from Guilford College in North Carolina decided to take a stand against current airport security procedures by hiding suspicious material in the bathroom of a Southwest Airline jet.

According to an article on (www.MSNBC.com), Daniel Heatwole got past security and successfully hid box cutters and other banned items in the plane as an “act of civil disobedience with the aim of improving public safety for the air-traveling public.”

With the materials, Heatwole provided a note detailing when and where the bags were carried aboard. He later sent an e-mail providing precise details of where the bags were hidden, the exact dates, flight numbers and his name and phone number, the article said.

Heatwole’s actions were both stupid and noble.

If someone would have seen Heatwole with any of the materials, it could have caused chaos as well as a potentially dangerous situation for his life. If there was a marshal, security guard or even just the average Joe who was flying that day, they could have thought Heatwole had ill intentions and taken matters into their own hands.

Across the nation people are already living in fear since Sept. 11 and actions like Heatwole’s may add more apprehension.

However, it is hard to imagine many authorities would have listened if Heatwole merely said there were weaknesses in security without demonstrating them. Sometimes the only way to get something done or noticed is to step up and make a sacrifice.

In a time when this generation of students is already considered lazy, it is refreshing to see someone sacrifice himself or herself for a cause he or she believes in.

Heatwole knew about the possible repercussions if he were caught, the (www.MSNBC.com) article said. Heatwole faces possible charges of 10 years in prison for bringing a dangerous weapon aboard an aircraft.
Heatwole will be charged no matter what, more so to show actions like these cannot be accepted. Until then, airport security will be put under much needed scrutiny. The fact that the box cutters alone slipped past security is scary — not only for the fear of terrorism but for the fear of any unstable person getting through with a weapon.

Learning from this incident, airport security should set up training for employees to look for incidents such as this. Putting employees through mock drills more than once can help them be better-trained observers. It may not happen often but catching that one time can save one or many lives.

This is a staff editorial from The Daily Vidette at Illinois State University.
This editorial was distributed by U-wire.