CIA recruitment session also site of protest

Anita Varma News Editor

Patrick Murray Staff Writer

More than 70 people gathered in the Faculty Commons of the College Center on Oct. 11 to hear a career opportunity presentation from Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) representative code named Jeanmarie. While most presentations of this kind draw an audience of students interested in the profession, the CIA’s talk attracted students seeking more than information about salaries.

Those in attendance ranged from students arriving 30 minutes early with suits and notepads, to groups of plain-dressed students wandering in from the Retreat. Some students had even applied for internships and post-graduate jobs with the CIA, but they could not identify themselves due to the necessary secrecy of the application process. Members of the Vassar Student Activist Union (SAU) also attended.

Jeanmarie gave a PowerPoint presentation about the structure of the CIA and the agency’s mission. She invited questions throughout the 90-minute talk. These inquiries ranged in topic from recommended college degrees to torture of prisoners.

When asked to comment on accusations that the CIA overthrows democratic governments, Jeanmarie replied, “It’s a great question—not one I’m prepared to answer. I came here to talk about the job. That’s a separate conversation.”

Protesting students were not satisfied with this response.

“She was not even an apologist for ongoing CIA brutality; look at the pictures from Abu Ghraib, read the stories from Guantanamo. She simply sidestepped any question that dealt with our absolutely legitimate concerns about human rights and global security,” said Max Shmookler ’06.

“She used common techniques to manage our questions and downplay their importance by saying things like, ‘I hear your concern, and I would be happy to talk about it after the meeting’ [as if] human rights, et. al., are not a public concern; [not] something of vital importance to all of us as ethical people, but rather a mere detail to be addressed in private, after everyone else has gone home,” Shmookler said.

The presentation outlined the requirements and expectations of working for the CIA. In one of the first slides, Jeanmarie explained what the CIA does. “We do not monitor American citizens’ lives. That’s the [FBI’s] job,” she said.

Jeanmarie highlighted the three acts the CIA condones. “No blackmail, no coercion, no sexual entrapment,” she read from the slide. “These are three things we cannot violate. If we did these things, not only would we be in violation of U.S. law, but also we wouldn’t be building a trusting institution. We don’t want to harm assets or alienate them.” Two students voiced doubts that the CIA builds trust by performing espionage.

Many students at the presentation were seeking information about the job. “I need to start looking for work, and the CIA seems like an interesting job,” said Ryan Mason ’06.

Other students insisted they needed to convey that the CIA is not a worthy institution for which to work for. “The reason we asked provocative, pointed questions was not to disrupt the meeting, offend people, or even to get the recruiter to admit anything,” said Michael Sochynsky ’05. “Rather, our purpose was to raise awareness and inform potential applicants (of which there were many) about why they shouldn’t work for the CIA if they believe in human rights and democratic values. The CIA’s historical track record and ongoing involvement in promoting torture demonstrates that it is a tarnished, immoral institution.”

Still, students looking at the CIA as a career interest enjoyed the opportunity. “More students were interested than less,” said Kate Laubach ’06. “It might have been the wrong place and the wrong time, but I absolutely love our school for doing something like that.”

The CIA has looked to Vassar for applicants due to the College’s strong international studies and language programs, but the CIA had not made an appearance since 1987. During that presentation, students came carrying banners and chanting. The disruption resulted in the presentation being moved to a locked room.

The Career Development Office (CDO) was much happier with this presentation. “Students were really interested,” said Associate Director Fred Burke. “A few asked if we could get the FBI.”

Even if the CDO disagreed with the CIA, they could not refuse them the right to recruit on campus. According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers, colleges cannot discriminate between employers.

However, protesting students contended that the CIA presenting at Vassar was improper. “If we are to have any ethical integrity as a campus, we cannot continue to invite the advocates and practitioners of U.S. hegemony to do their recruiting,” said Schmookler.

Jeanmarie advised students interested in the job to gather more information. “I would encourage you to read both positive and negative books on the CIA,” she said. “You’ll find that there’s a plethora of both.”