The fate of civil liberties is at a turning point in the wake of Sept. 11's terrorist attacks, a Penn State professor told a small group of people interested in peace and civil rights issues last night.

Clay Calvert, associate professor of communications and law, spoke at the invitation of the Coalition for Community Health and Healing. The group, which gathered at a senior citizens' center, located at 131 S. Fraser St., included senior citizens, Penn State students and other community members.

"This is probably the most crucial time in recent memory for being vigilant about civil liberties, for both U.S. citizens and non-U.S. citizens," Calvert said.

Calvert focused on what he considered the key concerns surrounding the recent signing of the USA Patriot Act by President Bush. He pointed out possible threats to civil liberties within the act, which contains more than 1,000 sections.

Many sections of the act provide broader capabilities for the government and law enforcement agents in cases of suspected terrorism. Calvert found this term problematic.

"The question is, how do you define 'suspected terrorist'? How is this going to be construed?" he said. "It's that slippery slope idea because when you start carving out exceptions it will just continue."

The ambiguous definition of suspected terrorism, Calvert said, could be used to apply the Patriot Act to situations other than terrorism. He fears that in the future the legislation could be used to prosecute crimes not originally intended by the act's authors.

"This clearly has effects beyond simply terroristic activities," Calvert said.

Calvert discussed what he viewed as threats to the first, fourth and sixth amendments within many sections of the new act.

One first amendment issue Calvert spoke about was press access to military actions, which he said has been very limited during current U.S. military operations.

Calvert said that certain sections of the act could possibly jeopardize the fourth amendment. He believes these sections "water down" constitutional search and seizure rights, giving law enforcement agents broader powers to obtain search warrants.

Calvert also spoke about sixth amendment issues surrounding the act. A provision included in the act allowing government and law enforcement officials the right to monitor formerly protected conversations between attorneys and clients.

Calvert examined the possible use of military tribunals as well.

"Military tribunals may thwart the idea of justice being done because we won't be able to see it and to know that it was fair," he said.

Reed Smith, the event's organizer, was pleased to have Calvert address the group. Smith said the group was created after Sept. 11 to "form a coalition among various peace groups" such as church, student and other community groups.

Zeb Bartels, president of the Christian student organization Pax Christi, attended the speech to become better informed about civil liberties.

"I thought it would be important to know about the civil liberty violations going on right now," Bartels said. "I think they're underreported."