Undercurrents

Privacy alert at BCC!
Security-conscious operatives on the South Campus of Broward Community College have passed along to New Times a package of sensitive student documents -- including social security numbers -- they claim were pulled from trash cans in the financial aid, registration, and student advisement offices.

The documents include copies of student loan promissory notes; computer printouts of grades, test scores and class schedules; and fax requests for records in storage. The documents contain student names, addresses, and telephone numbers -- as well as social security numbers -- all a privacy thief needs to gather personal information for phony credit card applications and other scams.

An anonymous letter accompanying the package charged that throwing sensitive documents into trash cans "continues to be a daily practice with these departments without any consideration for security.... There is no documented procedure or policy on shredding these types of documents to prevent any criminal intent to access students' social security numbers."

How does BCC respond?
"I'm kind of shocked about this," says Dr. Mont Smith, provost at BCC's South Campus in Pembroke Pines.

Smith emphasized that BCC has a policy to shred sensitive documents such as these and vowed to find out "exactly what happened so it doesn't reoccur. This is something that is extremely serious to me. Obviously we have procedures we want to follow on this campus, and if someone is not doing the job, then I need to fix that."

It's also serious to "Undercurrents," so rest easy BCC students: New Times destroyed the documents.

In corporate America's never-ending drive to blanket the continent with self-serving logos, we have Pro Player Stadium and the FedEx Orange Bowl and now: The "REPUBLIC BOX OFFICE!"

Those magical words greet theater patrons calling for ticket information at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, for it seems that Wayne Huizenga's Republic Industries has given the performing arts center $300,000. In return, in "recognition of the company's generous commitment," the center has named its box office "in Republic's honor" for the next five years.

"We have taken a page from the world of corporate underwriting of sports and cultural events," enthused Robert B. Lochrie, Jr., chairman of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation. "It will be our pleasure to acknowledge Republic's partnership with Broward Center in our promotional materials....The Republic Box Office will pay tribute to Republic Industries' dedication to our community's cultural environment."

Not to mention Wayne's understated dignity.
Coming next perhaps: the Broward Performing Arts Center official "AutoNation USA Urinals."

Undercurrents wants to know about any and all political deals, media screwups, and particularly dumb memos from bureaucrats. Let us know. Call 954-233-1572, fax 954-233-1571, or e-mail undercurrents@newtimesbroward.com.