The news that universities are being asked to spy on their students was met with alarm, if not surprise by Muslim and 'Asian looking students. We should all be concerned, however, at measures that stoke suspicion and division, and ultimately play into the hands of those in society who wish to engage in terrorist.

This leaked proposal comes on the back of recent comments by politicians - one talking of self-imposed apartheid by Muslims, a government minister calling for a teacher to be sacked for adhering to her religious beliefs and another denouncing the mainstream Muslim Council of Britain.

This tide of hostility will undoubtedly be expressed on our campuses with the safety of the one in five students that come from an African, Asian or Muslim background threatened.

In addition to fuelling a growing racist climate, it also risks alienating hundreds of thousands of young people whose co-operation is vital if we are to prevent further terrorist attacks, the stated aim of the leaked document.

Stopping terrorism requires groups such as Al Qaeda to be isolated, identified and stopped. Everyone who opposes terrorist attacks has a part to play in achieving this. This is the distinction which separates the overwhelming majority of Muslims and non-Muslims alike, from a tiny minority willing to bring death and destruction to the rest of our lives. Any approach that blurs that boundary can only increase the terrorists ability to commit such acts.

Stigmatising whole communities because of their appearance or religion can only alienate those who are unfairly suspected from working with the authorities, be that the police or university administrations.

Similarly, shifting the debate away from uniting against terrorism and onto the much more vague term of tackling 'extremism as the leaked report does, is equally likely to result in failure and the castigation of entire communities.

What exactly is meant by 'extremist' and who is to be its judge remains unclear. But the definition which appears to be taking hold in some government circles captures all muslim opponents of current British foreign policy in its net. As a consequence the majority of Muslims become 'extremist' and so are suspects.

Students do not have to have to be Muslim to have been 'radicalised' in recent years and Islamic groups are not the only student societies to have become 'increasingly politicised'. The biggest campaigns on campus have been for peace and global justice. Many young Muslims have joined with a diverse range of communities, in for example opposing the war in Iraq. Dispelling the myth of apathy, students - Muslim and non-Muslim - are engaging in the political process, through protesting, lobbying and campaigning. This should be celebrated not treated with suspicion.

The report even creates suspicion against the many Muslim students who have chosen live at home whilst studying because they are trying to keep their debts down -a result of being more than likely to be from the very poorest backgrounds or have chosen to remain in local communities with have access to specific food, cultural and religious provision. Instead of understanding these specific concerns, students living at home are portrayed as potential terrorist lynchpins.

Across the country students are settling in to the first academic term. Universities, colleges and students' unions can do a great deal to create an inclusive supportive atmosphere, where anyone who seeks to recruit to terror can be quickly and easily identified. This is what we need to achieve. Fuelling alienation and mistrust by spying on those who look or pray differently will not help us to achieve it.

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