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June 09, 2009, 09:19 AM ET
Brigham Young U. Reconsiders Its Ban on YouTube
Students and faculty members at Brigham Young University could view YouTube on the campus for the first time this fall if a re-evaluation of its policy results in a decision to lift the ban on the video-sharing Web site.
The university first restricted access to YouTube, along with several other Web sites, in 2006, after administrators said some content could be found offensive and was inconsistent with the university’s mission statement.
Since then, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released an official YouTube channel, Mormon Messages. Videos posted on the channel have since been viewed more than 2.9 million times.
“The amount of educational material on YouTube is increasing,” said university spokeswoman Carri Jenkins. “What we’re looking at is the opportunities that are there for material that might be useful on campus and in the classroom.”
Ms. Jenkins said students are free to view any kind of online content off campus, but the current ban restricts YouTube from all campus computers, including those connected to the Internet in campus housing. The university does allow certain video-sharing sites on campus, like Google Videos, that it says uses a more thorough filtering system to catch offensive content.
The restriction is being reviewed by university administrators, with input from faculty members and students, Ms. Jenkins said. The university expects to make a decision by the beginning of the fall semester.—Erica R. Hendry
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