Across the country, civil rights organizations are battling the Pentagon’s use of a student information database for military recruitment, alleging that it infringes on a citizen’s right to privacy under the 1974 Privacy Act. But how much of an infringement on privacy is receiving a flyer in the mail – or a phone call – asking someone if they want to join the military?

The government keeps tabs on people’s personal information anyway, in systems maintained by departments such as the Internal Revenue Service and the Bureau of Consular Affairs, so it would make little sense to oppose a database similar to one that these other departments have long had in place.

Though the Pentagon’s database may contain information on GPAs and students’ educational levels, the information is not likely misused for illegitimate purposes. The government does not intend to use the information to people’s detriment, but rather for providing information on military recruitment. And providing information has never been a violation on people’s right to privacy.

Allowing the government access to such information makes it easier for recruiters to find people to join the military, avoiding having to start a draft because of their inability to find recruits.

The Pentagon should have an obligation not to use the database to recruit potential military servicemen in a discriminatory manner, or be used for other purposes than military recruitment. The likelihood that the database would be used for non-military recruitment purposes is probably low, because other government agencies already run their own databases, and need not tap into the Pentagon’s list because they likely share the same information anyway.

Though the Privacy Act of 1974, and personal liberties guaranteed under the Constitution, should be upheld by any and all means, the Pentagon database is not a violation of the Privacy Act, because the government does not maintain the database to infringe on people’s privacy through military recruitment procedures, but only to find those most likely to be interested in serving their country.

Taking away this database may satisfy these organizations’ goals for more privacy, but the potentially burdening task of finding recruits will become even more costly for the Defense Department – and the information isn’t all that sensitive, anyway. Some people complain that students’ Social Security numbers are involved in the database without realizing that the numbers are government-issued anyway. And the Pentagon isn’t about to steal your identity.

The collaboration between universities and the Defense Department to promote interest in serving in the military is a praiseworthy effort that civil rights groups should endorse.

The Pentagon is responsible for ensuring that a student database is used properly and not for any reasons other than military recruitment, and close observation both internally and by civil rights groups should make sure no illegitimacies in its use are taking place.