Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!think.com!sdd.hp.com!wuarchive!emory!athena.cs.uga.edu!mcovingt From: mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk Subject: Re: Student suspended for distributing /etc/passwd Message-ID: <1991Jun16.171754.24492@athena.cs.uga.edu> Date: 16 Jun 91 17:17:54 GMT References: <31124@hydra.gatech.EDU> <1637@lehi3b15.csee.Lehigh.EDU> <1991Jun16.032125.19880@ddsw1.MCS.COM> Organization: University of Georgia, Athens Lines: 56 Concerning the choice of punishment and the ultimate fate of this student, here are some details. The University had two concerns: (1) To get this student to grow up and understand his ethical obligations; (2) To deter others from attempting computer break-ins. On point (1), we chose to use the Student Judiciary rather than bring criminal charges, precisely so this fellow would not have a criminal record and so his name would be kept confidential. We felt that he was not a hardened criminal, but rather a basically immature person who failed to understand his responsibilities and was too easily influenced by others. The only penalties the Student Judiciary can impose are expulsion, suspension, or community service. As witness for the prosecution, I asked for a light sentence because I thought it would best serve both (1) and (2). Many crackers believe they will never suffer _any_ punishment for computer break-ins, so even a relatively light punishment will have a substantial deterrent effect. My own feeling is that 2 quarters' suspension is exactly right. It's desirable to get this person away from the University's computers for a while, and away from the small circle of crackers that he was apparently associating with. I don't think this will make him a college dropout. We especially ruled out computer-related community service (e.g., making him work, unpaid, at a help desk) because of the widespread myth that if you get caught cracking passwords, some employers will view this as proof that you are a computer genius. We wanted to make it clear that unethical behavior is never a qualification for a technical job, paid or unpaid. I would like to hear from others who have more specific ideas of how crackers should be punished. During this particular case I found that almost everybody wanted to be harsher than I did. Widespread sentiment was that he should have been expelled. -- ------------------------------------------------------- Michael A. Covington | Artificial Intelligence Programs The University of Georgia | Athens, GA 30602 U.S.A. -------------------------------------------------------