Latest computer policy for Nevada colleges still misses ACLU mark
Thursday, Dec. 10, 1998 | 11:18 a.m.
Nevada's ACLU director called the state university and college system's latest computer use policy "significantly flawed" and "incomplete."
The University and Community College System of Nevada released the fifth revision of the policy earlier this week, hoping it would allay concerns about computer privacy issues raised by faculty and ACLU representatives.
The policy is aimed at protecting the state's higher education institutions from liability if computers are misused -- for example, if illegal software or pornographic material is loaded on a computer. Some 20,000 people use computers at one of the state's universities or community colleges.
But critics said that earlier drafts went too far, allowing administrators or computer technicians too much access to faculty or student files.
The latest revision of the draft is significantly less intrusive than the previous four, said Gary Peck, executive director of the ACLU in Southern Nevada, but it is not acceptable to civil libertarians.
"I applaud them for their efforts, but it remains incomplete and significantly flawed," Peck said.
Peck said the draft is lacking a broad statement about the college system's commitment to academic freedom, the First Amendment and a right to privacy. It also lacks a list of specific circumstances under which administrators could access faculty computers, a limit on which files they could access and a clause providing due process protection for faculty and student computer-users, he said.
"The next step should be bringing together all of the interested representatives -- student, faculty, staff -- who will be affected, to address the policy," Peck said.
But UNLV Pres. Carol Harter is satisfied with the new policy proposal.
"I'm very happy with the latest draft. It gets itself in far less trouble because it is less detailed," she said.
Jane Nichols, UCCSN vice chancellor for academic affairs, said that she will continue to work with the interested parties.
"But sometimes, I wish we'd never decided to draft this in the first place," Nichols said. "But the state system needs a computer policy."
The Board of Regents will vote on the policy this spring when interested parties come to a compromise on a final draft.
archive
- Most Read
- Discussed
- Most E-mailed
- Man, 26, dies in collision with truck traveling at 100 mph
- Nevada’s just not for us, many top high schoolers say
- Casino venue in Singapore will have Las Vegas flavor
- CityCenter completion might spur home foreclosures
- MGM Mirage: CityCenter not affected by debt woes
- Fontainebleau retail component seeks bankruptcy
- Metro admits to improper release of criminal history data
- Holiday Auction 2009 items
- Real estate experts cautiously optimistic about market
- For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over
Blogs
The Kats Report
Could a savior of shuttered Las Vegas Art Museum be ... Peter Max? (5 Comments)
For Paul Stanley and KISS, rock and roll is not over (5 Comments)
Twenty years ago today, Human Nature took root on the farm (1 Comment)
Robin Leach's Las Vegas Celebrity Watch
Photo Gallery: Donny Osmond’s triumphant return to the Flamingo
The Kats Report
'DWTS' champ Donny Osmond still deft afoot in return to Flamingo (8 Comments)
Politics: The Early Line
Meeting of GOP governors draws challengers, not Gibbons (5 Comments)
Politics: Ralston's Flash
Oscar loves forcing developers to sign labor peace agreements, Culinary loves the city's downtown plans and all is forgiven (10 Comments)
Calendar »
- 28 Sat
- 29 Sun
- 30 Mon
- 1 Tue
- 2 Wed
-
KISS at the Pearl
The Pearl at the Palms
-
Christopher "Kid" Reid at the LA Comedy Club
LA Comedy Club @ Trader Vic's
-
Stevie Wonder at MGM Grand
MGM Grand Garden Arena | 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
UNLV Rebels vs. Louisville at the Thomas & Mack Center
The Thomas & Mack Center | 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
-
Joe Perry Project at the House of Blues
House of Blues | 8 p.m. to 11:59 p.m.
-
Vicente Fernandez at the Mandalay Bay Events Center
Mandalay Bay Events Center | 9 p.m. to 11 p.m.
-
Jay Leno at The Mirage
Terry Fator Theatre
The Sun
Locally owned and independent for more than 50 years.
Technorati










