From: john@iastate.edu (John Hascall)
Subject: Re: DRAFT Student Access/Use Policy
Keywords: opinions welcome.......
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA
Date: Sat, 11 Apr 1992 15:00:09 GMT

morgan@ms.uky.edu (Wes Morgan) writes:
}I have been working on a "Student Access and Use Policy".  I've finally
}managed to wrangle it into a manageable form.  I'd like to hear any com-
}ments you may have.

Well, here are my comments.  Well, actually my complaints.  If I
left it out, I didn't have any questions about it.

John
My background (bias?) is:
     ISU Comp Ctr Systems Software Engineer
     Member of ISU Computor Advisory [to the Provost] Committee
     Part-time graduate student
}==============================================================================
}DRAFT
}
}                Student Computing Access and Use Policy

}                                          ... No disciplinary action will be
}taken against students by the Engineering Computing Center; if such action
}is contemplated, the matter will be remanded to the appropriate office.
             [this appears to not be true, see below]

}1.1   Use of restricted ECC facilities by those students outside the College
}      of Engineering is prohibited.  [Paragraph 1.21u, CSC] 

What about students not in the Engineering College but who are taking
an Engineering Course?  Where do they fall?

}1.2   Sharing your userid with any other person is prohibited.  [Paragraph
}      1.21u, CSC]
}
}1.3   Using a userid which belongs to another user is prohibited, even if you
}      have been issued a userid of your own.  [Paragraph 1.21u, CSC]

We also have a rule of one userid per person -- it sounds like this is your
situation, maybe that is worth saying explicitly.

}The ECC Staff may, at a later date, establish specific policies to address
}short-term problems or situations.  You are obligated to follow those short-
}term directives and/or policies, just as you are obligated to follow this
}policy.  You may also receive specific personal instructions from ECC Staff;
}those instructions must be followed as well.  Therefore:

Some assurance that these policies and/or instructions will also be in
accordance with, and not superior to, University policy?

}You are allocated a certain amount of disk space on ECC system for storage
}of your files and data.  Each user has their own disk space; you have no need
}to examine the disk space of other users.  The ECC Staff does not, and will
}not, examine student files or data, except during normal computing
}operations (e.g., making system backup tapes).  Therefore:

An assurance that files/data `accidentally' seen will be not be divulged?

}2.2   Attempts to evade or change resource quotas are prohibited.
}      [Paragraphs 1.21a, 1.21h, and 1.21u, CSC]

I assume you *are* allowed to change a quota by requesting a change from ECC?

}While we do not place arbitrary limits on your use of ECC systems, it is quite
}possible for you to consume a significant portion of the systems' resources. 
}As a result, you may impede the work of other users.  If this should occur,
}you will be notified by ECC staff.  Therefore:
}
}2.3   Continued impedance of other users through mass consumption of
}      system resources, after receipt of a request to cease such activity, is
}      prohibited.  [Paragraph 1.21a, CSC]

How does someone who feels his consumption of resourses is warranted
(necessary to their academic success) seek appeal?

}Your access to ECC systems is based on your academic needs.  We cannot,
}and will not, support "for-profit" operations.  Therefore:
}
}2.4   Use of ECC facilities and/or services for commercial purposes is
}      prohibited.  [Paragraphs 1.21g and 1.21u, CSC]

Definition of `for-profit'?  Is, for example, using misc.forsale allowed
or not allowed.

}ECC resources are dedicated to academic work.  At this time, we cannot
}support game or recreational programs.  Therefore:
}
}2.5   The installation/execution of games and/or recreational programs on 
}      ECC systems is prohibited. [Paragraph 1.21u, CSC]

Definition of recreational?  News?  Only certain newsgroups?  E-mail?
Talk?  IRC?  Playing MUD?  Writing MUD?  Writing a program not required
in any class?  Fortune?  FTP?  Archie?  ...

}Section 3: Electronic Mail Policy
     :
}3.4   All mailing lists with more than 10 members must be registered with
}      the ECC staff. [Paragraph 1.21u, CSC]

I'm sorry, this seems absolutely absurd.

}It is important to note that the ECC staff will make arrangements for large
}mailing lists; however, we will not support mailing lists whose subjects
}violate University policy, State law, or Federal law.  (In any situation where
}this is a possibility, the University Counsel will be asked for a decision.)

How could the existence of a mailing list could be illegal?

}Section 4: Network Use Policy
    :
}There are a limited number of network ports available to certain systems. 
}It is possible to connect to other systems via ECC systems.  This misuse of
}ECC systems may result in depriving other users of access to our systems. 
}We cannot support use of computers outside of the ECC.  Therefore:
}
}4.2   Use of ECC systems and/or networks to connect to other systems, in
}      evasion of the physical limitations of the remote system/network, is
}      prohibited. [Paragraph 1.21a and 1.21u, CSC]

I don't understand this.  For example, we have a system with 1 serial
connection.  Is telneting to that system an "evasion of the physical
limitations"???  Why is that banned???


}Section 6: Incident Handling
     :
}In the event that you, knowingly or unknowingly, violate ECC or University
}policy, you will be contacted by the ECC Staff.  This contact will usually take
}the form of an electronic mail message.  It is your responsibility to follow
}any instructions you may receive from ECC Staff, and to confirm your
}receipt of those instructions.  If you believe that the instructions given to
}you are unreasonable, you should immediately contact the Director of
}Engineering Computing or the Assistant Dean of the College of Engineering. 
}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.  Therefore:
}
}6.1   Disregarding instructions of ECC Staff may result in the temporary
}      revocation of your computing access.

How do you know if they have even received your instructions (e-mail?).
If, for example, I was not on the system for a week or so, tried to use
the system some Saturday to complete a project due Monday morning and
found I my access revoked because I had not followed instructions (that
I never received) and my academic success was jepordized I would be furious.

Also, in my mind this is punishment -- something you stated at the top
would not happen.

}If your access is temporarily revoked, you should immediately contact the
}ECC Staff for an explanation of the situation.  In most cases, the revocation
}will be lifted within 1 working day.  Quite often, temporary revocation is the
}result of a minor, or apparently unintentional, violation of ECC or University
}policy; such revocations will be lifted as soon as the ECC Staff discusses the
}relevant policies with you.

See above--this is unacceptable.

}The ECC will abide by the decision of the Dean of Students.  If the Dean of
}Students chooses not to bring disciplinary action against you, or if the
}judicial proceedings are resolved in your favor, your complete access to ECC
}facilities will be immediately restored.

Access is restricted BEFORE the guilt of the student is determined?!?