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Acceptable Use

Cedarville University provides students with access to network and computing resources as an integral part of the educational environment. Students using these resources should do so responsibly and consistent with the University mission and objectives. The University reserves the right to define and enforce appropriate regulations to ensure that the use of these resources is consistent with the University mission. Enforcement of these regulations may involve (at the University's discretion) monitoring of stored disk files and electronic transmissions (electronic mail, Web-site accesses, etc.). Use of the network and computing facilities implies consent to these regulations and monitoring activities.

Responsibilities

1. Each student is responsible for the use of his/her network account. Resident students are responsible for any and all computing and network access from their residence-hall rooms. All students must take reasonable precautions to safeguard their passwords.
2. Transferring copyrighted materials to or from any system or via the University network without express consent of the owner is strictly forbidden and is a violation of Federal and State laws. Examples of illegal copying include:
   • Making a personal copy of software licensed to the University
   • Copying files created by another person without obtaining that person's permission
   • Installing software on a computer without first obtaining a license for that software
3. Browsing, exploring, or making other unauthorized attempts to view data, files, or directories belonging to the University or to other users is forbidden. It is also unacceptable behavior to corrupt files, introduce deviant software (worms, viruses, etc.), or interfere with someone else's legitimate computer use. Possession of a program designed to gain unauthorized access will be deemed to constitute an attempt at breaking computer security.
4. Accessing, viewing, displaying, printing, or distributing pornographic or obscene material is prohibited. Establishing Web pages with links to such material is also prohibited.
5. Use of electronic mail and other network communications facilities to harass, offend, or annoy other users of the network is forbidden. "Chain letters" and "e-mail bombing" are considered to be violations of this policy.
6. Students are expected to treat the equipment with appropriate care. In addition:
   • Computer repairs, re-cabling, etc. must be done by Computer Services staff members. Students are not allowed to open the computer cases.
   • Food and drink are not allowed in the public computing laboratories.
7. Students should help keep down the cost of providing the computer resources. Supplies such as laser toner and paper are provided for use in the laboratories on university-owned equipment. Printing should be limited to essential work. Multiple copies of printouts (e.g., meeting notices, campaign posters) should be made on photocopy machines rather than on the computer printers. Supplies should not be removed from the laboratories for use on other equipment. Students with computers in their rooms are responsible for providing their own supplies for in-room use.
8. The University has provided "bulk mail" programs and "for sale" programs for individuals to send out high-volume notices. Students are not to send out unsolicited electronic mail messages to large numbers of recipients (over 25 recipients) except for official University business on behalf of student organizations.
9. Incidental use of University computers and network resources for personal gain (e.g., posting a resume, mentioning consulting services on a personal Web page, using e-mail to correspond with an employer) is allowed, but students are not to make such business activity the primary focus of their computing and network usage. Students are not allowed to provide off-campus access to bulletin board systems, web servers, or other services running on their residence hall computers.

Offenses in categories 1-5 above are suspendible or dismissable on the first offense. Offenses in categories 6-9 are subject to fines on the first offense, and are suspendible or dismissable on subsequent offenses. Students violating these guidelines may also be subject to criminal prosecution. The intent of these regulations is to ensure a productive and economical computing environment for all users, while abiding by laws governing copyrights and computer access. Questions and suggestions regarding these policies should be sent to the Director of Computer Services.

Usage Policies for Students

To help students understand some of the implications of the network rules, the Student Services office has provided the following elaboration of rule 1 above:

1. Use of the computers in the residence hall is the responsibility of the occupants of the room. The residence hall room occupant(s) will be held responsible for any and all inappropriate messages sent out from that room.
2. Messages may not be sent out under another person's name.
3. Proper etiquette and decorum should be adhered to in all messages sent out over the network. Name calling, insults, etc. have no place on CedarNet.
4. It is your responsibility to protect your account from unauthorized use by changing your password frequently and selecting passwords that cannot be easily guessed.
5. You are responsible for messages sent out under your name by another person to whom you have granted proxy access. Please note that the prohibition on students opening the computers means that students are not allowed to add memory or other internal features to the residence hall computers. Self-provided computers ("SPC") may be connected to the network, so long as the SPC regulations are observed.

Copyright

When a work (music, poem, essay, computer program, etc.) is put into tangible form, that work is automatically granted a copyright. The copyright owner has full rights to control the distribution of the work, including the right to charge for access to the work. Academic institutions are granted some "fair use" privileges, but these uses are quite limited and generally apply to small excerpts from a work. Individuals (faculty, staff, and students) do not have the right to make complete copies of musical performances, video tapes, etc. without explicit permission from the copyright owner(s).

For music or video, there could be multiple copyrights:

• Author of the words
• Composer of the musical score
• Performer of the work
• Designer of the packaging and other promotional material

While copyrights generally expire some years after the death of the author, a related work may still be protected. For example, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is no longer protected by copyright but any recent performance of the symphony probably is...so it would be illegal to copy the recorded symphony performance.

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