I'd like to think, though perhaps I am being overgenerous and idealistic, that the majority of readers saw this from the start as the hoax that is was.

This story was a perfect example of bad urban legends

Unnamed student tries to get a book from the library (Little Red Book, old, wide circulation, Mao's Communist regime no longer much of a threat)

Is visited by 2 members of DHS (thought they handled ingress / outgress issues mostly - this would be a job of the FBI) who show up with a copy of the book (so they're deciding on the spot whether or not to release a book?) after readng through library records (Bork Bork Bork, and no, that's not the Sweedish Chef)

This is then blaimed on a poly-sci course, which is supposed to teach all of these topics, with no specifics, etc

I've got a bridge to sell you. And a nice Nigerian official to help with the downpayment

These BS statements are ripe for snopes. I'm more worried by the extreme reactions than to the indifference on an obviously bogus claim