Spring 2009 - Issue 5

The Silversword: Home > Chaminade Life > Chaminade’s Data Dump

Chaminade’s Data Dump

Cherish Galea’i, Chaminade Life Editor

Chaminade students and Alumnus received an alarming e-mail that puts many at risk. Confidential information, including students’ names, addresses and social security numbers, were found on the university website.

This report was accessible online for the entire world to see for eight months. Discovery of this report was on November 4 of this year, at which point the information was immediately taken down from the site.

There has been no evidence or reports of any use of the information by affected students.

According to the e-mail about 4,500 undergraduate students who attended the university from 1997 to 2006 had their private information exposed, which includes alums and a few current students.

After the first e-mail was sent, notifying students of the incident, a second email was sent to the affected students and alums.

“I got the second e-mail which means I’m on the list of the affected students,” said a Chaminade senior who requested her name not be used. “It sucks because now, on top of graduating, I have to worry about identity theft. Thanks a lot Chaminade (sarcastically)!”

The incident has many Chaminade students feeling vulnerable and let down.

“It is really sad that this kind of thing has happened,” said Verdie Onosa’i, a CUH alumnus. “I can’t believe my own alma mater put me out there like that.”

According to the email sent to affected students, Chaminade’s investigation of the matter showed no malicious intent. It was merely ‘human error’.

Rest assured, CUH students, the university is helping out those who were affected and is taking preventative measures to ensure this type of incident doesn’t happen again.

“The university is putting into place procedures designed to prevent a recurrence of this type and will be providing additional training to its staff regarding the protection of personal information.” – Chaminade News via e-mail.