WikiLeaks job scare

The WikiLeaks job scare occurred in December 2010 when, as a result of the US diplomatic cables leak by organization WikiLeaks, a State Department employee wrote an email to Columbia's CCE warning students that sharing the cables could disqualify them for diplomatic employment, as it would indicate their inability to handle directives relating to confidential information. The email was forwarded to SIPA students by CCE.

One Bwog commenter reacted by noting that it would be a compliment to be considered incapable of keeping information confidential by the State Department, which had been unable to protect itself from the leaks.

After a national uproar, during which the Huffington Post prominently displayed an image of Alma Mater being muffled by duct tape crossed over her mouth, SIPA repudiated the State Department employee's email. In an official communication to students, Dean John Coatsworth noted that it would be contrary to SIPA's mission to discourage discussion of the cables. Professor Gary Sick went so far as to label "undeserving" of their degree any SIPA student who had not sought out cables relevant to their area of study.