Passed in the weeks following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the USA PATRIOT Act has divided Americans on the issues of civil rights and anti-terrorism measures.

Students and faculty will discuss the law as part of a public forum sponsored by NIU Forensics.

“Terrorism or Tyranny: The Battle over America’s Security” will feature a panel of four students and three faculty members who will weigh the pros and cons of the act.

“The central theme is whether this act has been good for the country or whether this act is the beginning of a new era of overly zealous national security,” said John Butler, Forensics director and faculty adviser.

Defenders of the PATRIOT Act claim it gives law enforcement agencies more freedom in apprehending terrorists. Various civil liberties groups have criticized the act for allegedly violating constitutional rights.

Both President George W. Bush and Democratic presidential hopeful John Kerry originally supported the bill. However, Kerry now has campaigned against the act, which will expire in 2005.

The event will be a discussion, not a debate.

“No winner is going to be declared,” said Frances Glatfelter, Forensics coordinator of public debate.

Glatfelter said they tried to get a mixture of conservatives, liberals and others to discuss their opinions.

The panel moderator will take an active role in the discussion.

The PATRIOT Act public forum will be held at 7 p.m. today at the Holmes Student Center’s Heritage Room.