The Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17 U.S. Code) protects copyrighted computer programs. Illegal copies of copyrighted programs may not be made or used on University-owned equipment.
Computer Technologies Acceptable Use Policy
Access and use
Access to some University computer systems requires
that each user have a unique identity, protected by a
password. A computer identity represents the user in
various system activities, to provide access to
software and data, and to associate the user's own
software and data with the identity. As such, this
computer identity is a University instrument of
identification, and its misuse constitutes forgery or
misrepresentation and is subject to University
disciplinary action.
In particular:
* No Webster system is to be used for any illegal or
criminal purpose.
* Unauthorized attempts to gain root access or access
to any account not belonging to the user on any
Webster system are prohibited.
* Unauthorized access to restricted databases is
prohibited.
* Any user who finds a possible security hole on any
Webster system is obliged to report it to the system
administrators.
* Password sharing is prohibited. Users shall be held
responsible for choosing safe passwords, ensuring file
protections are set correctly, and for all use of
accounts and user-ids assigned to them.
Civility and liberty
The University seeks to protect the civil, personal,
and property rights of those actually using its
computing resources and seeks to protect the
confidentiality of University records stored on its
computer systems. Conduct which involves use of
University computer resources to violate another's
rights is subject to University disciplinary action.
As an academic institution, we are committed to
supporting the academic freedom of all members of
the University community; as a social institution, we
are committed to respecting the dignity of all members
of our community. The standards and principles of
intellectual and academic freedom developed for
university libraries apply to material received via
computer news networks and by similar means. The
standards of intellectual and academic freedom
developed for faculty and student publication in
traditional media apply to computer-mediated
publication.
There will be situations in which what one person
understands to be free expression another person
takes to be harassment, personal assault, or an
assault on prevailing standards of decency. The
Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression at
Yale University (January 8, 1975), states:
Shock, hurt, and anger are not consequences to be
weighed lightly. No member of a community with a
decent respect for others should use, or encourage
others to use, slurs and epithets intended to discredit
another's race, ethnic group, religion, or sex. It may
sometimes be necessary in a university for civility and
mutual respect to be superseded by the need to
guarantee free expression. The values superseded are
nevertheless important, and every member of the
university community should consider them in
exercising the fundamental right to free expression.
We have considered the opposing argument that
behavior which violates these social and ethical
considerations should be made subject to formal
sanctions, and the argument that such behavior
entitles others to prevent speech they might regard as
offensive. Our conviction that the central purpose of
the university is to foster the free access of knowledge
compels us to reject both of these arguments. They
assert a right to prevent free expression. They rest
upon the assumption that speech can be suppressed by
anyone who deems it false or offensive. . . . . They
make the majority, or any willful minority, the arbiters
of truth for all. If expression may be prevented,
censored, or punished, because of its content or
because of the motives attributed to those who
promote it, then it is no longer free. It will be
subordinated to other values that we believe to be of
lower priority in a university.
The conclusions that we draw, then, are these: even
when some members of the university community fail
to meet their social and ethical responsibilities, the
paramount obligation of the university is to protect
their right to free expression. . . . If a university's
overriding commitment to free expression is to be
sustained, secondary social and ethical responsibilities
must be left to the informal processes of suasion,
example, and argument.
Just as nothing in the present policy is to be
understood as excusing users of University computing
facilities from compliance with federal or state law,
nothing in this policy should be understood as
withdrawing the University's affirmation of statements
in faculty and student policy handbooks in support of
academic and intellectual freedom.
None of this, though, denies that harassment on the
basis of sex is a violation of Section 703 of Title VII of
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 and is also prohibited
under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.
Webster University's Sexual Offense Policy defines
sexual harassment (following Section 703 and the
EEOC's 1980 Sex Discrimination Guidelines):
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual
favors, and other verbal or physical contact of a
sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when 1)
submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or
implicitly a term or a condition of an individual's
employment or education or 2) submission to or
rejection of such conduct is used as a basis for
employment or academic decisions affecting that
individual or 3) such conduct has the purpose or effect
of unreasonably interfering with an individual's work
or academic performance or of creating an
intimidating, hostile, or offensive educational or
employment environment.
The mere fact of computer-mediation by no means
excuses contact that otherwise counts as sexual
harassment under the reasonable person standard
adopted by the University. Furthermore, users of
public terminals or similar facilities at the University
should be aware of the public nature of shared
facilities and should take care not to display images or
play sounds that could create an atmosphere of
harassment for others. Similar considerations apply to
electronic mail exchanges.
Electronic mail on Webster systems should be as
private as the system administrators can make it.
Users are prohibited from trying to read the electronic
mail of others. System administrators are not to read
mail or non-world-readable files unless truly required
in the course of their duties. System administrators
are to treat mail and non-world-readable files as
private at all times. Whenever feasible, systems
should be administered so that bounced mail is
directed to the system administrators in the form of
headers only to protect privacy while ensuring reliable
e-mail service.
The University is not responsible for unofficial uses of
computer resources. In particular, e-mail and personal
Web pages often express private opinions which do
not reflect University positions.
Property
Webster University computing and information
resources are made available to individuals to assist in
the pursuit of educational and other academic goals. It
is expected that users will cooperate with each other
and respect the ownership of work and information
even though it is in electronic--rather than more
immediately tangible--form. Individuals and
organizations will be held no less accountable for their
actions in situations involving computers and
information resources than they would be in dealing
with other media. Rules prohibiting theft and
vandalism apply to software and data as well as to
physical equipment.
In particular:
* No Webster system is to be used as a staging
ground to crack other systems.
* No one shall alter or delete software, hardware,
communications, or data belonging to someone else
without authorization.
* Users may not browse, access, copy, or change
private files without authorization. Users may not
attempt to modify the computer system or software in
any unauthorized manner.
* Use of Webster systems for non-Webster purposes,
such as running an independent business, or volunteer
work for some other organization, absent written
authorization, may constitute theft of computer time.
Activities by students related to their coursework or to
the work of chartered student organizations, and by
faculty or staff related to their contractual obligations
are explicitly authorized by this policy.
* Users ought to adhere to posted lab and system
policies, procedures, or protocols, such as time or
storage limits, where those policies, procedures, or
protocols are consistent with this policy. Refusal may
constitute failure to comply as defined in the Code of
Student Conduct.
* The use of invasive software, such as "worms" and
"viruses" destructive to computer systems, is
unethical and illegal.
* Copyrighted software must only be used in
accordance with its license or purchase agreement.
Users do not have the right to receive or use
unauthorized copies of software, nor to make
unauthorized copies for themselves or others.
* Attempting to damage or disrupt operation of
computer equipment, data communications equipment,
or data communications lines is prohibited.
* Gratuitous consumption of system resources (disk
space, CPU time, bandwidth) will not be tolerated.
Adjudication
This policy establishes no new governance or disciplinary structures. Alleged violations of this policy are to be treated like other allegations of wrongdoing at the University. For example, allegations of misconduct by students should be adjudicated according to established procedures regarding student conduct.
Above policy approved in this form by the Faculty Senate, Webster University, July 18, 1996, and by the Technology Coordinating Committee, August 21, 1996, following previous deliberations by the Senate, as well as deliberations by the Technology Co ordinating Committee of the University, its AUP Subcommitte, and the Faculty Executive Committee (precursor to the Senate). Adopted by the Administrative Council of the University on August 27, 1996.