From: kadie@eff.org (Carl M. Kadie)
Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Subject: Re: DRAFT Student Access/Use Policy
Keywords: opinions welcome.......
Date: 13 Apr 92 15:23:05 GMT
Organization: The Electronic Frontier Foundation
Originator: kadie@eff.org

There is lots of good stuff in the policy. I especially like the
references to general university policy and the tie in regular
university disciplinary channels.

The whole temporary/permanent access restriction/reduction is very,
very complex and confusing. Here is a summary:

A.
Being suspected of violating a rule and
  Not getting the ECC's email or
  Not getting the ECC's email or
  Not following the instructions of the ECC's email
	-> temporary revocation

B.
Being suspected of violating a rule and
In the opinion of the ECC staff immediate revocation is necessary
        -> temporary revocation

C.
Being suspected of a significatant violation of a rule and
The Dean of Students decides judicial proceedings are necessary
        -> restricted access for the duration of the proceedings
           The amount of restriction depends on the nature of the charges.

It is open for abuse by the ECC staff. (I don't think that Wes Morgan
would abuse "his own" policy, but others could). I think the procedure
could be improved by mentioning in parts B and C that supensions and
restrictions before a finding will only be imposed "for reasons
relating to his physical or emotional safety and well being, or for
reasons relating to the safety and well-being of students, faculty, or
university property." [student.freedoms] This could be reenforced
having the head of ECC OK such actions. (Similar to the OK required in
the U. of Delaware policy).

Part C is especially unclear about how the restiction "depends" on the
nature of the charges. A staff member could read it and this that he
or she is suppose to punish users before it has been determined that
they have volated policy.

Which gives me a chance to use a quote that I've been saving for
weeks:

   "No, no," said the Queen: "The sentence first -- the verdict
    afterwards." -- Lewis Carroll, _Alice in Wonderland_.

Finally, here are some notes on the wording of this section.

=========================
In the event that you, knowingly or unknowingly, violate ECC or University
                                                 ^^^^^^^
policy, you will be contacted by the ECC Staff.
--
This probably also applies if they merely appear to violate policy.
The staff shouldn't assume that a violation has occured until
after at speaking with the user.
================
"In the event that you, knowingly or unknowingly, violate ECC or
University policy, you will be contacted by the ECC Staff."
                   ^[replace with:]The ECC will try to contact you

=======================
"If you do not register your complaint with either the Director of
                             ^^^^^^^^^
Engineering Computing or the Assistant Dean, it is expected that you
will follow the instructions given to you."
--
Contesting an accusation is not a "complaint".

==============

6.2   Temporary revocations of computing access will be dissolved within
      one working day of the resolution of the violation.
                                               ^^^^^^^^^^
--
There may not be a violation; it may only appear that way.


- Carl
-- 
Carl Kadie -- I do not represent EFF; this is just me.
 =kadie@eff.org, kadie@cs.uiuc.edu, or (anonymous) ap.3619@layout.berkeley.edu=
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