
From alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk Fri Apr 24 10:41:39 1992
Xref: eff alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk:4175 comp.admin.policy:1774
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Path: eff!kadie
From: kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
Subject: Re: Marquette University's Policy
Message-ID: <1992Apr24.141319.14043@eff.org>
Originator: kadie@eff.org
Sender: usenet@eff.org (NNTP News Poster)
Nntp-Posting-Host: eff.org
Organization: The Electronic Frontier Foundation
References: <1992Apr22.183810.10419@eff.org>
Date: Fri, 24 Apr 1992 14:13:19 GMT
Lines: 70

[...]
>I. Policy on Authorized Use of M.U. Public Computer Systems

[...]
>    In the event that C.S.D. observes what we consider to be misuse of
>the computer resources, we will contact the endorser or their supervisor
>and recommend one or more of the following actions be taken:

>    o the project be more carefully supervised,
>    o the client be required to pay for computer resources,
>    o the offender be denied access to the system temporarily or
>      permanently,
>    o that appropriate University disciplinary action or civil action
>      be taken.
[...]

C.S.D. presupposes that anyone it accuses of misuse is in fact an
offender. It sounds as if a user could be permanently expelled from
the system without ever having a chance to speak, without the chance
of a formal hearing, and without an opportunity to appeal. Giving the
final decision to an endorser (such as a professor) does not provide
due process. At most schools, a professor cannot suspend a student
from his or her classrooms without due process. At MU, a professor,
who may know little of computers, can expel a student from the
computer system on his or her own.

[...]
>II. WiscNet/Internet - Policy

>Policy Statements

>     WiscNet, like CSD and other computing support facilities has
>formal usage policy statements.  Such statements provide information on
>the purpose of the network, what activities the network is designed to
>support and general uses. Users are expected to both know the letter of
>all applicable computing policy statements, as well as be able to
>discern the spirit of such statements since a complete list of every
>possible acceptable or unacceptable use would be impractical.

Users are "expected to ... know the letter of all applicable computer
policy statements" but no list of policy statements is provided. It
appears that CSD doesn't know the letter of all applicable computer
policy statements.

[...]
>In addition, the
>networks [WiscNet and Internet - cmk]
>cannot be used for personal profit.  For example, do not use a
>discussion list to advertise items for sale or to solicit business.
[...]

This is factually incorrect. Some parts of the Internet are
commercial. Even the parts that are not commercial, such as NSFnet and
WiscNet, allow some commercial activity (within strict limits).

[...]
>     Never consider electronic communications either private or secure.

Does this mean that the CSD will not treat user email as confidential?


So what is missing? There is no indication that this policy was
created openly with the participation users and the University
committee. There is no protection for freedom of expression. The due
process protection is inadequate. There is no privacy protection.

- Carl
-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu =

From alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk Fri Apr 24 10:13:34 1992
Xref: eff alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk:4155 comp.admin.policy:1765
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Path: eff!widener!ukma!darwin.sura.net!europa.asd.contel.com!uunet!ferkel.ucsb.edu!piggy!jim
From: jim@ferkel.ucsb.edu (Jim Lick)
Subject: Re: Marquette University's Policy
Message-ID: <jim.703974404@piggy>
Organization: University of California, Santa Barbara
References: <1992Apr22.183810.10419@eff.org>
Date: Wed, 22 Apr 1992 20:26:44 GMT
Lines: 27

In <1992Apr22.183810.10419@eff.org> kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie) writes:
>    WiscNet and the Internet should never be used for purposes intended
>to incite crime.  For example, it is illegal to post a credit card number,
>a telephone credit card number, or a computer password. In addition, the
>networks cannot be used for personal profit.  For example, do not use a
>discussion list to advertise items for sale or to solicit business.

I object to their use of the name Internet in describing policies which
apply only to certain portions of the network.  There are parts of the
Internet where there are no or different usage policies from those noted
above (e.g. PSInet, Alternet, CERFnet, and many others).  They should
specificly note which networks restrict such use, and that because all
of their traffic (presumably) goes out through WiscNet, that all traffic
has to at least comply to their usage policy.  In addition, their example 
is more encompassing in restriction than the restrictions of the networks
which do have usage restrictions.  For example, posting a for sale ad
on misc.forsale.computers for an old hard drive would widely be held to
be acceptable.  Soliciting business, and other commercial activities are
prohibited by such networks, generally.

                            Jim Lick		       
Work: University of California	| Play: 6657 El Colegio #24
      Santa Barbara		|       Isla Vista, CA 93117-4280
      Dept. of Mechanical Engr. |	(805) 968-0189 voice/msg
      2311 Engr II Building     | "when you gonna make up your mind?
      (805) 893-4113            |  when you gonna love you as much
      jim@ferkel.ucsb.edu	|  as i do?" -Tori Amos

