Schedule of Events

Since the implementation of the USA-PATRIOT Act, concerns about privacy and government surveillance have increased.  Shortly after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, the USA-PATRIOT Act of 2001, Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism, was passed overwhelmingly by Congress based on the rationale of improving counter-terrorism efforts that may have prevented the September 11thattacks. The Act allows government officials to access a range of information without the immediate presentation of a search warrant.  Coupled with the rise of social media, the concept of privacy protection held by society has been molded by these policy and technological shifts.  There is an increase in financial breaches online, identity theft, and recently breaches into health records.  Therefore, the legal protection of individual’s privacy is a relevant and timely topic. The objective of this study is to examine if privacy laws have been able to effectively adapt to technological advancements.  It will analyze societal conceptions and expectations of privacy, particularly in the areas of health and finance.  The research addressed the following questions: 1) what laws protect the financial and health privacy of individuals? 2) What challenges or gaps exist in the protection of privacy? 3) What is a reasonable expectation of privacy in a technological age? Research methods used in order to gain a better understanding of privacy included the following: (1) semi-structured interviews with individuals and (2) an existing data set from surveys conducted by the California Lutheran University Scopes and Methods in Politics Class Fall Semester 2014.

California is entering the fifth year of one of the states’ most devastating droughts that has caused wildfires, severe water shortages, and agricultural losses.  Public health and continued prosperity, even survival, hinges on the decisions of California politicians and the resulting populations efforts. The purpose of this study is to examine if and how the state mandatory 25% reduction enacted by Governor Jerry Brown adequately addresses California’s drought crisis. The study outlines key areas of public policy on state water resources and the impact of those policies on the residents; agriculture; and the environment. An extensive literature review of the state’s water policies and statistical analysis of the drought conditions impacting California was conducted throughout the duration of the project. Secondly, information was collected from regional site visits in conjunction with an interview to depict implementation of current policy. Among the conclusions, it was found that the savings accumulated from the emergency drought legislation will be mute within the next generation due to anticipated population growth.