Laura Hershey of Denver, Colorado, went to her local OfficeMax to do

some copying on March 9, and she was astonished to see a "Notice to Our

Customers" that read "During this time of heightened security

awareness, we will report suspicious or questionable requests for

printing or document reproduction to law enforcement authorities."

Hershey complained to the store manager and wrote a letter to OfficeMax

headquarters in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

"This policy does not make anyone more secure," Hershey wrote. "On the

contrary, it is likely to intimidate people who may hold controversial

political or religious opinions, and suppress their right to disseminate

those opinions through flyers, newsletters, etc. . . .

"Those who will be affected are the grassroots activists, organizers,

artists, students, and others who have a legitimate need or desire to

express their opinions in print, and who must do their duplicating at a

local retail outlet such as OfficeMax.

"When these individuals come into your store, and read the sign posted

prominently at the Copy Center, many will be afraid to proceed with

their printing project-not because they are doing anything dangerous or

illegal, but because they feel intimidated by that threat to turn them

over to the authorities.

"Those who do go ahead and print their materials may risk being

reported, investigated, harassed, even arrested."

In short, Hershey said, the policy invades people's privacy and

"suppresses their right to free expression."

The Progressive talked with Steve Baisden, manager of investor relations

at OfficeMax headquarters, on March 13.

He said the sign "is up in all of our print-for-pay stores," and the

company has more than 1,000 of them.

The policy, he said, "is a direct result of the events of Sept. 11. We

are cooperating with the authorities in every way we can."

Baisden says the company has already turned in a few customers to the

authorities.

"I'm sure we've reported a few things, but I don't think anything's come

of them," he said.

As to Hershey's point about trampling on basic freedoms, Baisden said

"Certainly we want to respect people's rights, but we have a social

responsibility as well to work with local authorities as much as we

can."