NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #20/NN_1992_20.iso/spool/comp/admin/policy/993

Internet Message Format | 1992-09-08 | 5.7 KB

Xref: sparky comp.admin.policy:993 alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk:2725
Newsgroups: comp.admin.policy,alt.comp.acad-freedom.talk
Path: sparky!uunet!spool.mu.edu!yale.edu!jvnc.net!princeton!phoenix.Princeton.EDU!mgflax
From: [e-mail] (Marshall G. Flax)
Subject: Re: New Princeton Policy
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Sender: [e-mail] (USENET News System)
Nntp-Posting-Host: phoenix.princeton.edu
Organization: Princeton University
References: <[e-mail]>
Date: Tue, 8 Sep 1992 21:52:38 GMT
Lines: 120

In article <[e-mail]> [e-mail] (Carl M. Kadie) writes:

>    2. ... (Note: if an individual has explicitly
>    and intentionally established a public server, or
>    clearly designated a set of files as being for
>    shared public use, others may assume
>    authorization.)

This parenthetical comment was added, in part, to allow people to browse
through others' ~/pub and ~/Pub directories without fear of disciplinary
action.

>    3.  You must not attempt to decrypt or translate
>    encrypted material, or obtain system privileges to
>    which you are not entitled. Attempts to do any of
>    these will be considered serious transgressions.

According to a CIT representative, the phrase "to which you are not
entitled" modifies *both* "system privileges" and "encrypted material",
so one is allowed to decrypt material to which one is entitled.  (You'd
think the lawyers would have picked up on the ambiguity!)

>    6.  You must be sensitive to the public nature of
>    shared facilities, and take care not to display on
>    screens in such locations images, sounds or
>    messages which could create an atmosphere of
>    discomfort or harassment for others. You must also
>    refrain from transmitting to others in any location
>    inappropriate images, sounds or messages which
>    might reasonably be considered harassing.

This seems reasonable: public clusters are shared, and people should
show some consideration and politeness.  Notice that the tone of this
paragraph is less "imperative" than many of the others, and seems to be
an exact parallel to PU's regulations regarding printed matter.  The
issue of USENET porn has been raised in campus newspapers last year.

>    7.  You must avoid tying up computing resources for
>    excessive game playing or other trivial
>    applications;  sending frivolous or excessive mail
>    or messages locally or over an affiliated network;
>    printing excessive copies of documents, files,
>    images or data. You must refrain from using
>    unwarranted or excessive amounts of storage;
>    printing documents or files numerous times because
>    you have not checked thoroughly for all errors and
>    corrections; or running grossly inefficient
>    programs when efficient ones are available. You
>    must be sensitive to special need for software and
>    services available in only one location, and cede
>    place to those whose work requires the special
>    items.

It should be noted that P'ton is liberal with disk space, makes games
available for Macs through public file servers, offers nearly unlimited
laser printing, and (regarding "grossly inefficient programs") offers
emacs in addition to vi.

>    8.  You must not prevent others from using shared
>    resources by running unattended processes or
>    placing signs on devices to "reserve" them without
>    authorization. Your absence from a public computer
>    or workstation should be no longer than warranted
>    by a visit to the nearest restroom. A device
>    unattended for more than ten minutes may be assumed
>    to be available for use, and any process running on
>    that device terminated. You must not lock a
>    workstation or computer which is in a public
>    facility. You must also be sensitive to performance
>    effects of remote login to shared workstations:
>    when there is a conflict, priority for use of the
>    device must go to the person seated at the keyboard
>    rather than to someone logged on remotely.

This does raise the unattended terminal problem, but it's hard to arrive
at a platform-independent solution.

>    10. If you create or maintain electronically-stored
>    information which is important to your work or to
>    the University in general, you are responsible for
>    making frequent backups of the information.

The University still backs up mainframes, but they have a point here.

>    11. Messages, sentiments, and declarations sent as
>    electronic mail or sent as electronic postings must
>    meet the same standards for distribution or display
>    as if they were tangible documents or instruments.
>    You are free to publish your opinions, but they
>    must be clearly and accurately identified as coming
>    from you, or, if you are acting as the authorized
>    agent of a group recognized by the University, as
>    coming from the group you are authorized to
>    represent. Attempts to alter the "From" line or
>    other attribution of origin in electronic mail,
>    messages, or postings, will be considered
>    transgressions of University rules.

These also seem to mirror the U's policy for written material.

>    12. If you create, alter, or delete any electronic
>    information contained in, or posted to, any campus
>    computer or affiliated network it will be
>    considered forgery if it would be considered so on
>    a tangible document or instrument.

This looks pretty good.

>    13. You must not create and send, or forward,
>    electronic chain letters.

There is a school of thought which considers all of USENET to be a
single chain letter.

marshall
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= Original material(c) 1992, Marshall Flax <[e-mail]> =