Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!brutus.cs.uiuc.edu!apple!limbo!taylor
From: jet@flatline.lonestar.org (Eric Townsend)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: Rules of ethics for CS majors?
Message-ID: <335@limbo.Intuitive.Com>
Date: 17 Jan 90 02:59:59 GMT
Sender: taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com
Lines: 37
Approved: taylor@Limbo.Intuitive.Com

Christian S. Collberg asked:

> I'd be interested in hearing about how different schools have
> handled the teaching of ethics for Computer Science Majors. With "ethics"

As far as I know (I'm a compsci minor, will start work on compsci bs
in the fall); the University of Houston CompSci dept. just has the
basic "academic honesty" policy and that's about it.  The only
additional rules I've been given in my 6 or so CompSci classes are:

1.  The account is for class use only.  The instructor and/or TA has
the ability to peruse any and all files in your class account to make
sure you're only doing class work, and that you aren't lifting files
off of other students.

2.  There's a special form for network access (internet mail, telnet,
ftp) that says you agree to follow some sort of vague rules about
not breaking any laws and following university rules concerning use
of university equipment.  It doesn't seem too 'binding', but it would
certainly help the university if they could say that
J. Random Worm-author :-) had been warned not to do anything that
wouldn't be officially sanctioned by the university.

Also, all University Employees are "asked" to sign a form saying that
they won't sell/consume illegal chemicals while at work or on University
property.  I doubt it would conflict with posting/reading alt.drugs
(any university account can get usenet access, I think); but there
could be problems if you post tips on growing your own weed from a
university account.  (Any legal eagles want to clarify this?)

Likewise, I don't know if there is any sort of policy for dealing
with people who use email/usenet as a "bully pulpit" for encouraging
illegal acts or hate crimes...  (I doubt it, knowing this university.
There isn't even a general SOP (Standard Operations and Practices) manual
that I can find...)

J. Eric Townsend