Thursday, October 18, 2007
Student Senate voted last night to create a task force to work with the KU administration to review the University’s current zero-tolerance policy towards illegal downloading on campus.
Full Senate created the task force after failing a resolution, proposed by the Student Rights Committee, which would have asked for a return to the University’s previous policy and a repeal of the zero-tolerance policy. The previous policy didn’t revoke Internet privileges in student housing until a student had been caught file sharing three times.
Four members of the Student Rights Committee — Mason Heilman, Emily Williams, Tom Cox and Ian Staples — presented the legislation.
Staples said one of his concerns was that several students were not forwarded letters that the Recording Industry Association of America had sent to the University notifying them that the RIAA had filed charges against those students for illegally sharing files. As a result, the students did not have enough time to settle the charges out of court and lawsuits had been filed against them.
“If I had gotten the letter, I would get a lawyer in 5 minutes. If I don’t get the letter, I have no options,” Staples said. “In an attempt to protect student rights, we have allowed 14 students to get sued.”
The University implemented a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal file sharing this summer, which takes away Internet privileges from students if they are caught sharing files illegally. According to the ResNet Web site, students will then receive notice from the University that their Internet privileges are being revoked and that they would have five days to appeal.
Hannah Love, Dodge City senior and student body president, asked Senate to fail the resolution and stated that she would have vetoed the resolution if it had passed. Love said that she and other Senate leaders have already worked with the University Administration to resolve problems with the zero-tolerance policy.
Love has previously said that the zero-tolerance policy was too stringent, but that the former policy wasn’t strict enough.
“There has been progress made. There has been compromise made,” Love said. “I cannot support a resolution that encourages illegal downloading.”
The task force will consist of Love, Student Body Vice President Ray Wittlinger, Student Senate Executive Chair Adam McGonigle, two members of full Senate and two members of the Student Rights Committee.
Marlesa Roney, vice provost of Student Success, told Senate that so far this year, 85 students have been disciplined for illegal file sharing in the residence halls. Of those 85, Roney said, 65 had successfully appealed.
Although Student Senate cannot force the KU administration to change policies, it can charge members to work with the administration to influence policies and advise changes. Roney has previously stated that she is willing to work with Student Senate on this issue.
-Edited by Rachel Bock
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