Dan Sullivan Looks Forward to Reading Your E-Mail, Other Personal Files

TBOC! Blocked, IT's Acceptable Use Policy Changed

At the behest of President Dan Sullivan, the University recently blocked access to Take Back Our Campus from all computers on campus, even those privately owned by students using the SLU network. In addition, parts of the Acceptable Use Policy-- which governs student, staff and faculty access to campus-wide computing facilities-- were changed.

However, while drastically altering (see below) some parts of the document, the University either forgot or was too lazy to reread the document as a whole, leading to a schizophrenic final product. For example, consider this statement at the beginning of the AUP:

Acceptable use is governed by the following broad principles: the enhancement of the University’s academic mission, the academic freedom of users, the reasonable privacy of users, and the maintenance of the integrity of computer resources.

Read it alongside these words from the (now-changed) "Privacy" section:

The University will make every reasonable effort to respect a user’s privacy. However, faculty, staff and students do not acquire a right of privacy for communications transmitted or stored on University resources.

Interesting, our readers may be saying. What exactly does this lack of privacy entail? Read on, as it does get scarier:

The University will make every reasonable effort to respect a user’s privacy. However, faculty, staff and students do not acquire a right of privacy for communications transmitted or stored on University resources. In addition, in response to a judicial order or any other action required by law or permitted by official University policy or as otherwise considered reasonably necessary to protect and/or promote the legitimate interests of the University and the University community, the President (or if the President is unavailable, the Vice President of Academic Affairs) may authorize the Vice President of Information Technology, or an authorized agent, to access, review, monitor, and/or disclose computer files associated with an individual's account.[Emphasis added.]

In plain English, if the invasion of your privacy may serve the (intentionally) vaguely defined "legitimate interests of the University and the University community," President Dan Sullivan may authorize IT to investigate your personal correspondence as well as any files you may have stored on the University network. If President Sullivan is unavailable (golf, banjo lessons, etc.) this power is granted to the "Vice President of Academic Affairs," an entirely imaginary position. (Assumedly, this is meant to refer to Grant Cornwell, Dean of Academic Affairs and Vice President of the University.)

SLU is very fond of "teachable moments," real life situations that can be used to illustrate academic concepts. Perhaps this instance can be used to teach students the meaning of "Orwellian."

Update (1/5/05, 11:08 p.m.): The administration has blocked all network access to Take Back Our Campus. Even students with their own computers cannot access our site on campus. We are working hard to circumvent this. Please use these proxies to continue reading our site and stay tuned. Story Developing!