Thursday, May 1, 2003
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New Jersey Institute of Technology Prohibits File Sharing on Its CampusBy SCOTT CARLSON
Citing a need to protect students from lawsuits, officials at the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Wednesday banned the use of file-sharing programs on the institute's network. The institute's Student Senate had approved the policy, first proposed by administrators, in a close vote. Jack Gentul, the institute's dean of students, outlined his concerns about file sharing in a memo to students, staff members, and faculty members. He mentioned recent lawsuits by the recording industry against four students and declared that file sharing "put not only the students, but also the university at risk for legal action." He said he was not optimistic that educational programs would change student behavior. "In spite of efforts to educate our community ... we continue to receive notifications of possible violations from the recording and software industries," he wrote. "The volume of complaints continues to grow and the problem does not appear to be easily solved since the act of copying or downloading such materials appears to be imbedded in student culture." Most institutions restrict file-sharing activity on their campuses to manage network loads. Few institutions ban file sharing outright because of legal concerns. The institute is using special "traffic shaping" hardware and software to block access to peer-to-peer services that provide movies, music, software, and other copyrighted and uncopyrighted materials. The Student Senate approved the policy two weeks ago. Nexus U. Sea, a junior who is senate president, said he was surprised when a senator proposed a vote on the issue. The senate debated vigorously for half an hour before passing the policy, 10 to 9. Mr. Sea said he disagreed with the recording industry's recent move to sue students, but added: "I think that banning [peer-to-peer programs] is the only thing that is going to protect our students. I don't want our students to get caught up with lawsuits against Time-Warner." Mr. Sea said he has not heard complaints from students yet, "but that could change when they start banning file sharing." Stephen M. Theodos, a freshman who is an information-technology major, had not heard about the ban until he was contacted by The Chronicle. He wasn't pleased. "I think it's crappy -- it's pointless," he said. "File sharing helps me get into the bands that aren't popular." His favorite up-and-coming bands are less concerned with selling records than getting noticed, he said, so policies like this one would hurt them. He added that students will find a way to share files regardless of the ban. Mr. Theodos wasn't worried that banning peer-to-peer systems would hinder research or legitimate file-sharing activities. "For the most part, that's kind of an irrelevant concern," he said. "File sharing here is mainly used for illegal activity."
Background articles from The Chronicle:
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 Energy Dept. will open Los Alamos contract to competition Colleges have increased financial aid, mostly for higher-income students, report says German medical school gives scholars full access to hospital's Nazi-era records Fulbright Program to return to Afghanistan after 24-year hiatus American Mathematical Society recognizes 2 scholars Spring commencement speakers are announced by 27 colleges New Jersey Institute of Technology prohibits file sharing on its campus Senate backs bill to establish technology grants for colleges serving minorities In North Carolina, community colleges' and state's accounting systems are incompatible |
Copyright © 2003 by The Chronicle of Higher Education