John H Coatsworth, dean of Columbia university's school of international and public affairs (Sipa), today sent a note to students affirming that freedom of information and expression was at the core of the school's beliefs.The school's office had sent out a warning from a state department official that their future job prospects could be jeopardised if they look at the leaked cables, which remain officially classified.Coatsworth said: "Sipa's position is that students have a right to discuss and debate any information in the public arena that they deem relevant to their studies or to their roles as global citizens, and to do so without fear of adverse consequences. The WikiLeaks documents are accessible to Sipa students (and everyone else) from a wide variety of respected sources, as are multiple means of discussion and debate both in and outside of the classroom."
(from The Guardian)