COLLEGE SHORTS

Author: Julie Ellenberger, Jason F. Siegel & Daniel L. J. Phillips

Students targeted in recording suit

Last week, yet another set of lawsuits was brought against 745 college students by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for the illegal downloading of music on peer to peer networks. The names of these students remain unknown because the RIAA can only identify Internet Protocol addresses. However, under subpoena, the universities would be forced to release their actual identities.

Kara Jansons, a Boston University student sued last spring by the RIAA, expressed her concern for the unawareness of most students about the danger of downloading music illegally, saying "I don't think that people really know what's going on... A lot of people just assume that 'It's never going to happen to me, so why should I stop?'"

The RIAA argues that as a result of the illegal downloading of music, consumers, honest retailers, record companies and the artists all lose - they estimate that the recording industry loses around $4.2 billion each year as a result of piracy. This most recent wave of lawsuits targeted 17 universities, including Columbia, Harvard and MIT.



Severance deal rouses student ire

A recent $3.7 million severance package for Benjamin Ladner, departing president of American University, has students, faculty and alumni up in arms, causing them to take their case to Congress to request the replacement of the board of trustees.

The federal government maintains some oversight of the university since it granted the charter more than a century ago, including the ability to replace board members.

Kyle Taylor, president of the student government, decried the actions of the board that he maintains smacks of corruption. "Please do not let American University set a precedent for Enron-style corporate crime within higher education," he said.

In an internal audit, Ladner had been found to have spent lavishly. Though he must repay $125,000 and pay taxes on nearly $400,000, he still receives the vast majority of the settlement.

In response, several board members stepped down, refusing to serve with a majority who supported the deal.



FCC amends Act

The Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act of 1994 was recently amended to require any company or organization that provides Internet access to update its network in order to ensure that the FBI can obtain easy surveillance access for counterterrorism purposes. Most colleges and universities across the country provide Internet access, and all of the technological changes made in compliance with the new Act must be carried out entirely at the institution's expense.

The Federal Communications Commission changed the Act in response to a growing number of voice communications sent over the Internet.

According to a senior technology director at the University of Pennsylvania, institutions would have to comply within 18 months, but it is unclear precisely how colleges and universities would have to enhance their networks.