Wintermute's Blog @ Nitemare Cafe

The other day, I received this lovely email from Ohio University:

Dear OHIO Students,

Ohio University's computer network is central to many academic, research and university-life activities, providing reliable communications not only on campus but also across the world. Because this network is a shared resource, we must ensure that it is available to all campus users equally. Peer to Peer (P2P) file sharing currently consumes a disproportionate amount of campus technology resources, including both bandwidth and technical support. It also poses risks to the security of our network by opening ports on individual computers that can be used to spread viruses and spyware or to launch attacks against other computer systems. Finally, it often is used for illegal distribution of copyrighted works over our network.

In accordance with OHIO's Computer and Network Use policy 91.003, we will begin restricting P2P file sharing on our campus network at 12:01 am on Friday morning, April 27, 2007. Beginning then, any campus computer that we detect in violation of this policy will have its Internet access disabled until its owner or primary user contacts the IT Service Desk at 740-593-1222 and agrees to work with us to resolve the problem and to abide by the university's Computer & Network Use policy in the future. A second violation on the same computer will result in that computer's Internet access being disabled until further action is taken by the appropriate disciplinary body. Students will be referred to University Judiciaries. Other network users will be handled in a manner consistent with established university disciplinary policy.

This approach applies to all users of our campus network and will be enforced consistently.

To learn more, visit:

<http://technology.ohio.edu/help/blocked-faq.html>

OHIO's Computer & Network Use policy can be found here:

<http://www.ohiou.edu/policy/91-003.html>

If you have any additional questions or need help with the configuration of your computer, please contact the Service Desk at 740-593-1222 or <servicedesk@ohio.edu>.

There will be an information session about this new policy for all campus network users at noon on Thursday, April 26 in Baker Center 230.

Sincerely,
Mr. Brice Bible, Chief Information Officer
Dr. Kent Smith, Vice President for Student Affairs

As an IT professional, I know many of the claims are dubious at best, so I replied letting them know just that. I urge others to as well. Also, I was on the fence about returning in the fall. This email pretty much tipped my off the fence. I'd rather not support the spread of the RIAA's FUD via my tuition, so I'm going to vote with my wallet. They're not the only school in the state, should I decide I want to pursue my degree further. I urge other Ohio University students to consider transferring to new schools in the fall as well. One where the CIO doesn't spread the RIAA's FUD.

Update: My first email was to the address the message was sent from, so I looked up the two individuals above and emailed them directly. Here's the reply:

Hello Rod,

Thanks for your message and honest response. Neither of us received the first message.

I have spoken with Mr. Bible regarding your message and we concur that as long as you and any faculty, staff, or other student is not involved in any illegal downloading or file sharing, you have nothing to worry about regarding the policy change. Just so that we are on the same page, if you are downloading or file sharing for legal purposes, there is an option for you to get a waiver for it to continue. We certainly agree with you in that students provide the university with a large portion of its funding via tuition.

Thanks again for your message,

Dr. Smith

While I don't know what the waiver process looks like, it certainly appears that the new policy isn't as heavy-handed as the email notice made it sound.