Since the information on these sites is [usually] available from other sources that are not blocked, it's more of a nuisance than an actual problem for me.
However... according to the policies that OIT has published on their website, "Viewing or accessing indecent, obscene, pornographic materials using university equipment, network, or internet access is strictly prohibited", and "OIT will enforce restrictions that filter out certain Internet content that is inappropriate or unacceptable. Specific sites pertaining to violence, pornography, cults, drugs, gambling, militant, and extremist hate groups, and other inappropriate sites will not be accessible to students in the residence halls." The sites I have mentioned do not meet any of these categories.
With all due respect, for a university that, according to its mission statement, "... fosters individual ownership of Christian values including growth [...] in the exercise of self-responsibility.", I find it slightly upsetting that inoffensive sites are blocked simply because they have no educational value. As I don't have a car, and Steubenville isn't exactly a busy town, I like to pass my time by browsing the Internet and playing games such as World of Warcraft, and these sites are simply ways in which I do so.
I appreciate the University's understandable interest in protecting students from immoral content (and there's certainly plenty of that on the Internet.) However, in instances like this where sites are being blocked without actually meeting any criteria for being offensive... I feel that there's been a line crossed between moral safeguarding, and dictating what I should be doing with my time.
Respectfully,
John *****
-----Original Message-----
From: Cathy **** [mailto:CHeck@****.**********.edu]
Sent: Thu 3/8/2007 5:48 PM
To: John *****
Cc:
Subject: Re: Blocked sites
John,
I have reviewed both sites and have determined that they should remain blocked. Neither site serves a specific educational need which is the main purpose of RESNET. If you have any further questions, please contact me at my email address or at ext. 6498.
Thank you,
Ms. Catherine ****
Catherine ****
Asst. Vice President of Student Life
>>> "John *****" <john.*****@student.**********.edu> 3/6/2007 5:25 PM >>>
Hello all,
Can the sites thottbot.com and imageshack.us be unblocked from DansGuardian? Thottbot is a database of information for a game I play (World of Warcraft). imageshack.us is an image-hosting site no different from flickr.com and photobucket.com, neither of which are blocked.
Thanks! :)