By Jovita McCleod
Staff Writer
Some Pepperdine students may have been wondering where access to the Direct Connect file sharing system has gone. The computer running the Direct Connect on campus that allowed Pepperdine students to share files and download materials at a faster rate than outside systems was removed from F suite in Dorm 2 Friday afternoon.
As of the Graphic’s deadline, no names have been officially associated with the computer or the system. Dean of Students Dr. Mark Davis said the matter was under investigation and possible disciplinary action would not be taken until the investigation was complete.
One of the students involved in setting up the on-campus Direct Connect agreed to speak with the Graphic.
He said he and some other Pepperdine students set up the computer and the Direct Connect software. The system had been running on campus since the beginning of last year, according to this student, and that it had moved around to various dorms. He said that more than 200 students used this hub (a computer that connects the other computers to each other) for file sharing.
“The purpose was to provide speed,” the student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. The program achieved this by a written script that only allowed IP addresses (the specific number which identifies a computer’s Internet connection) from Pepperdine’s campus, which for Pepperdine all begin with 137.159. Any IP address that tried to log on and did not begin with these numbers was kicked off the system. This kept the connection directly between computers on the Pepperdine network.
By providing only on-campus access, file sharing could occur more directly and at a much faster pace than a system that included off-campus users. An MP3 could be downloaded in a matter of seconds and a full-length movie in a couple of minutes.
Junior Joseph Morris said he used the system last year.
“You can download a whole folder labeled “80’s music,” Morris said and added that he is still interested in using Direct Connect to download music. “You can still share files within Pepperdine, but you have to use outside systems … it’s just not as fast.”
The students who the Graphic was able to speak to in F suite, where the computer providing the hub was removed, said they did not know about the file sharing system being run on the computer in their suite or about the computer’s removal.
At this time, Public Safety has not made a statement about the incident.
Pepperdine’s computer and network usage policy states that the University computer and network systems are not allowed to be used for “transmittal of copyrighted or proprietary information without the appropriate authorization of the owner.”
Most of the files shared on this Direct Connect system were of copyrighted material. However, the hub itself does not control what is shared between users, but only provides the means for exchange. It is not clearly stated in the Pepperdine Handbook whether running programs such as Direct Connect are a violation of Pepperdine policy. However, Davis said sharing or downloading copyrighted music and videos violates the law and the University’s Computer and Network Usage Policy.
“We knew there would be some type of opposition if the school found out,” the student said. “The handbook is vague. It is their property so they can interpret the rules the way they want to.”
Some rumors have spread that Resnet was involved in running Direct Connect. In an official statement, Resnet said saying that it was aware of Direct Connect, but are in no way associated with it.
“We stand behind the Network usage policy for Pepperdine and we don’t encourage improper networking usage,” said Curtis, a Resnet staff member.
Most students found out about the file sharing system through word of mouth.
Students using the Direct Connect did not necessarily know where the hub was, but just that it worked a lot faster than others. Many of the students who used the hub are confused about why Direct Connect is down and some are angry.
A note posted on the Freedom Wall proclaims that Direct Connect is coming back.
The downloading of copyrighted material is turning out to be a difficult thing to stop, especially with young people who have grown up with it as a social norm.
“I don’t see anything wrong with using it,” said senior Santiago Giraldo. “They’re spreading music and music is a good thing.”
He also said he thought the music companies were making too big of a deal out of file sharing copyrighted material.
Many students share his opinion, but with digital downloading and copyright issues getting more attention with legislation such as the New Millennium Digital Act, which addresses the use of university computer systems in downloading copyrighted materials, it appears that the conflict will remain.
Submitted February 26, 2004