By Daisy Z. Dailey
Universities across the country -- and around the world -- are facing unique chal lenges in the realm of computer-use policy. Many issues must be dealt with, such as who has access to information and for what purposes, and what is and is not acceptable behavior in a networked world.
With most academic institutions, not to mention thousands of commercial enter prises using computer networks, the rules of the game can become quite complex. In fact, it might be more accurate to say that the rules are not yet written in many places; therefore, a number of questions must be addressed. For example, how are issues such as harass ment, privacy and copyright dealt with in the electronic world? Is it possible to anticipate such issues before they arise, to write policy accordingly, or to use existing policy to deal with them?
At Cornell, the answer is yes. Shortly before the issuance of the Responsible Use of Electronic Communications policy to the campus in October 1995, Marjorie Hodges, Cornell's former Judicial Administrator, joined the Office of Information Technolo gies as policy adviser (see 30 Nov. 1995 Cornell Chronicle , p. 3, "New policy governs cyberspace conduct and responsibil ity" by William Steele).
While Hodges holds a law degree, she is not acting in the "usual" capacity of an attorney. Instead of providing legal counsel, she will be encouraging campus dialogue about the legal and ethical issues surrounding the use of network-based resources, sponsoring seminars and workshops, and participating in campus policy development efforts. In this capacity, she is working closely with various Cornell entities, in cluding the offices of the University Counsel and the Judicial Administrator, and the Cornell Law School, Cornell Information Technologies and others.
In creating this position, Cornell is forging new ground. In addition to providing leadership to the campus, Hodges will assist other universities seeking guidance on issues related to the responsible use of computers and networks. According to Hodges, the response from Cornell and other institutions has been enthusiastic.
"I am amazed at the number of calls I have received in the last month requesting copies of Cornell's Responsible Use policy. Colleges and universities across the country are starting the process that we recently completed and may appreciate learning about Cornell's experiences," Hodges said.
Given the growing popularity of electronic communication and the Internet, the demand for experts who are knowledgeable about both law and computing will continue to grow. Hodges' position, a term appointment, will be extended if external funding becomes available.
Regarding her new role, Hodges said, "Law and ethics of computer use are dy namic topics right now, and I'm excited to work with the campus community to ad dress these issues."
For more information on the Responsible Use of Electronic Communications policy or to find out more about educational opportunities related to computing policy, contact Marjorie Hodges, mwh2@ cornell.edu, 254-8309.
For copies of the Responsible Use of Electronic Communications policy, contact Dolores Chase in the Office of Information Technologies, dtc1@cornell.edu, 255-8099.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please send them to <citnews@cornell.edu>.