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OwenBloggers: Isaac - MBA '08 |
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Then, about 30 seconds after I posted my last entry.
It's 2007 people! you'd think Microsoft would at least make their error messages slightly useful. Basically, this says:
"Your PC just lost control of its bodily functions. We totally have no idea what just happened. Dude, just sit tight and let's both hope whatever just happened doesn't happen again. Oh--- by the way, I lost whatever that stupid thing was that you were working on. Bummer."
The below article is is from Wired.com:
University of Michigan Identifying Students to RIAA, According to Email
Today, I received an email apparently sent by Paul Howell, Chief Information Technology Security Officer of the University of Michigan, to all of the university's faculty and staff. In the email, Howell writes that the university is in the process of identifying to the RIAA the [at least] twelve students belonging to the IP addresses on the RIAA's hit list, in cooperation with the organization's new anti-file-sharing initiative. The email also said that the university will notify the students that their names are being turned over to the RIAA.
Although Howell had already left the office by the time I called, University of Michigan staff confirmed that a letter regarding file sharing was sent to students; I hope to speak with Howell tomorrow for more detail.
Here is the full text of the email:
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On Friday, March 9, and Saturday, March 10, the University of Michigan received notification that the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) intends to sue or receive settlement from more than a dozen members of the U-M community engaged in unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing of music over the Internet. The RIAA has designated these individuals through IP addresses, and the University is in the process of identifying and notifying them.
This action is part of an increased effort to curtail unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing. As a result, individuals who engage in this practice are more likely than ever to be identified and sued by the RIAA. Most have settled these lawsuits out-of-court, typically for $4,000-$4,500.
The University does not condone unlawful peer-to-peer file sharing. Individuals who engage in it are violating a variety of University policies including Standard Practice Guide 601.7 - Proper Use of Information Resources, Information Technology, and Networks at U-M. This reminder also has been sent to all faculty and students.
Faculty, staff, or students who have installed peer-to-peer file sharing programs on their computers and are concerned that they might be unwittingly sharing files illegally should visit the University of Chicago's useful web page that describes how to disable file sharing on a variety of programs (http://security.uchicago.edu/guidelines/peer-to-peer/).
U-M maintains a web page (http://www.copyright.umich.edu) that describes the University's position on illegal sharing of copyrighted materials and also includes a growing list of FAQs. All members of the University community are encouraged to study the materials on this page.
Lawful downloading of music is possible through sites such as Apple iTunes, MSN Music, Rhapsody, Ruckus, etc. Details about a number of these sites are available at:
http://mp3.about.com/od/wheretobuymusic/a/all_profile.htm and http://mp3.about.com/od/freemusicdownloads/tp/freeandlegalmp3.htm.
Paul Howell
Chief Information Technology Security Officer
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So, help me out here; I want to understand this better. I don't really have a stance on the RIAA/filesharing debate; I see both sides of the coin. But in this case, what in the world is UM thinking? Read the email very carefully--- the RIAA "intends to sue" these students... they haven't actually even brought a case against them. UM is hunting down and identifying the students and turning them over to the RIAA--- so they're the police now?
If I have a problem with an Owen student because they keep posting derogatory comments on OwenBloggers, and I decide I might sue them, I can just ask IT for their identity? If I write something here on OwenBloggers (a non-Owen site) that someone believes is defamatory to them, and they "think" they might sue me, they can ask Owen to identify the PC that accessed OwenBloggers to post that entry?
It's disheartening to see an educational institution such as UM forget that in this country we have a legal system; if the RIAA wants to know the identities of these students, we have courts and we have subpoenas. Where will it end? If I think a classmate that doesn't care for me is writing emails to my prospective employers telling them what a jerk I am and not to hire me, can I waltz into the IT department and demand this person's identity because I *might* sue them? How about if someone quotes my work on OwenBloggers on another website and doesn't give me credit for it? Can I ring up their hosting service and demand their name and address?
Where does it end? You used to be able to count on your educational institutions to at least err on the side of caution... Now, it looks like they work for the recording industry.
There is both a long and a short answer to this question. I think there are very few major things I would change about Owen, but there are some that come to mind. I'll list them below in no particular order...
1. Admissions Staff. I think I speak for everyone when I say the experience we receive from the admissions staff is one of the reasons we come to Owen. These individuals were some of the most likeable, impressive people I met while applying to business school. However, once you get here, they kinda drop off the face of the earth. Where did you guys go?
2. Books. Ok, I know this is sort of a pet peeve of mine, but it seems like the professors consistently assign at least 3-4 very expensive books per Mod that will do nothing but collect dust. I'm a very cash-strapped student; blowing $250 per Mod on books I will never use is a complete waste. Classpacks are great, but when they cost as much or more than actual hard-bound books, something just doesn't add up.
3. The climate inside Owen. I say climate because that's exactly what it is; a climate. There are seasons; summer, winter, spring and fall--- these seasons change roughly 3-4 times per week. Yesterday, we were so hot we had to open the door to our study room just to keep from sweating. Today, my hands are numb it's so cold. I would be willing to bet it's a 30 degree temperature change in 24 hours. Amazing. Annoying, but amazing.
4. Study Room Reservations. This is a huge problem. I cant even begin to tell you how much this bothers me. We have about 25 study room scattered around Owen; you sign up in the library for one of these rooms in 3-hour blocks. If you show up at 10Am to reserve a room for that day; forget it, they'll all be booked. But, a discerning Owenite will know how it really works- just show up when you want a room, and you'll find that about 1/4 of them are empty. Go back to the book, and you'll find that the person that should have one of the rooms is actually signed up for 3 rooms at the same time. I've mastered the artform of figuring out who these offenders are and finding their name in the book; I go to the room they should have and they're never there. Supposedly we're automating this process, but I've been hearing that since orientation...
When I was looking into B-Schools-, I'd often end up on the "official" weblogs; many schools have them now. They're great; you get to read about all the interesting courses and how great XXXX school is and how "XXXX is preparing me so well for life with their rigorous academics and world-class faculty".
What a bunch of crap.
I'm embarrassed for the stuff they put up there. I was looking at one the other day- great layout, had 4-5 "real" students, all writing these eloquent, uplifting little snippets about their school. You'd find phrases like someone was there to "build up the toolset for business" and "nowhere can you find a better balance of real-world expertise and top-notch research".
If I didn't know any better, I could swear there was one admissions officer writing all these entries... Honestly. Come on. Nobody writes like that, unless they've recruited a class entirely made up of Stepford wives. Either that, or they're being forced at gunpoint...
There is no value to prospectives reading artificial brochure-style jargon... would a school want to recruit a student that couldn't read through the artificiality of these "blogs"? Any halfway intelligent individual knows when they're being hand-fed a plate of company-line garbage; it's so transparent it's almost offensive.
It's my current feeling that about 80% of what you're going to get out of B-School will be intrinsically tied to the environment of the school; the other students, the workload, the overall atmosphere of the place. You can't get that from the marketing message or the glossy mailers, and you cant use the uber-trendy blogosphere to cover up just another prepackaged advertisement. People see right through it.
So, any of you thinking about coming to business school... make sure you get your affairs in order before starting classes.
I've got a wedding to go to this weekend; it's in town, it's just an afternoon, but, it's a huge dent in my study schedule. I've had to work extra this week to lessen the load this weekend, and I'll be behind on studying come Sunday.
My advice is; if you've got a wedding, a move, a vacation, planned for your first few months at business school... forget it. There just isn't enough time. Get everything settled before school starts.
I lived in Nashville before classes started, so for me, the transition was simple. If you are moving a family here, I'd get into town 3 weeks before orientation to get settled in, figure out where to buy groceries, get your drivers license, etc... otherwise, you'll be unable to do these things once school starts.
Had my accounting test yesterday; let's just say I dont feel all that confident about the results. I knew the material, I mean, I KNEW the material, but that didnt seem to matter. I got into the test and folded like a cheap lawn chair.
The only reason I'm not posting this from the bottom of a bottle is because I aced my Managerial Statistics mid-term.
Got a wedding to go to this weekend--- will be a nice break from reality... I'm sure that feeling of levity wont last long.
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