The Transportation Security Administration Theater

If you know Luke, you know he has opinions. Here, after an uncomfortable episode at the airport, Luke takes on TSA.

By Junior Luke Sonderman

One of the biggest pains of flying is going through TSA (Transportation Security Administration) security. From long lines, to rude officers, to being groped during extensive pat-downs and having to take belts and shoes off, TSA is just no fun. But, how much is TSA really protecting air transportation? Is TSA really trying to sniff out bad guys, or are they just trying to look official to make travelers feel more comfortable?

My Personal Experience with TSA

I’ve never really minded flying. It’s always been pretty enjoyable for me. That was until I had a flight from Palm Springs to San Francisco at 6:30 a.m., all alone. I got to the airport an hour or two early and made my way to the security checkpoint. Everything was normal. I took my shoes off and put my bags up on the conveyor belt. The bags went through with no problem. I walked through the metal detector without having any beeping or metal detection. As I went to grab my bag, a TSA officer asked me to step aside. I went with it because like those dudes have guns. He asked me if I wanted to be searched in front of everyone or in a private room. Now, I’ve had my fair share of security pat-downs at public events and when using public transportation, so I just told him to get it over with. What I didn’t know is that I was about to have an extensive search of every nook and cranny of my body. He started off with the chest, neck, and under the hair. He checked behind my ears and in my arm pits. Now, I thought that this was a bit of a strong search. The guy didn’t have to check behind my ears. I can’t fit a bomb back there anyways. But, then he got to my hip, rear end, then crotch region, and that’s where I had the surprise of a lifetime. I felt groped, harassed, and confused. That man’s fingers went where I very much didn’t want them to go, and I never got an answer for why he searched me. 

What TSA is Actually There For

TSA is commonly referred to as a “security theater.” This basically means that TSA is a security administration put in place to make people feel safe and secure while flying, when in reality they aren’t really keeping you safe from anything. Jason Harrington, a former TSA Agent, says that “Yes, TSA agents are ogling or making fun of your naked physique in the full-body scans. Yes, they are racially and politically profiling certain people for extra screening. Yes, the body scans are ineffective and can be easily manipulated” (theatlantic.com). He went on to say, “It was a job that had me patting down the crotches of children, the elderly and even infants as part of the post-9/11 airport security show” (theatlantic.com).

In 2015, Homeland Security ran a study on TSA and how effective the security checkpoints were. They sent 70 agents through TSA security checkpoints with hidden weapons and fake bombs, and 67 of them made it through security without getting stopped (nbcnews.com).

Now, I’m not here to say that you aren’t safe flying because to be completely honest, TSA works. There has not been a successful large-scale airline attack in the United States since the creation of the TSA. Though what I will say is that if TSA isn’t catching guns and bombs behind my ears… can we please bring larger self-care products and not take our shoes and belts off? Let us just walk through the metal detectors. Please, spare us getting to the airport two hours early and having to spend extra time packing everything in the tiny little 4 oz bottles.