Universities and P2P File Sharing

Derek Slater posted some very appropriate thoughts on Ohio University’s decision to block all P2P software on the campus in his blog today.  I could not agree more with his thoughts and a few other things came to mind.

First, Ohio Univeristy should remember that it is an institution of higher learning and should do its duty to teach the young minds on their campus.  This includes teaching students how to properly utilize technology and to not break the law.  Oh, how simple their solution is, but as Derek pointed out, students don’t have to go far to get another Internet connection.

 Second, I would bet that the wrongdoers are the minority, and now the majority of the students have to suffer.  Just as a small percentage of Napster users, I believe 5%, were responsible for the majority of the illicit traffic on Napster, I would posit that the same holds true for Ohio University. 

 Last, what a PR nightmare.  What student would want to go to Ohio University knowing that at any moment the University might make a sweeping decision and take away a very important capability?

I hear a lot of students use the copy machines in the libraries to copy pages of textbooks, maybe we should take away the copiers.