Comments for Degrading McGill http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:46:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Proposed Changes to MCF Policy by admin http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-145 admin Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:46:25 +0000 http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47#comment-145 I appreciate your feedback, but you appear to be misjudging my mistake (with square quotes) as a deliberate act. Had you been able to observe my going through the many pages of materials that I forwarded to the reporter, removing the identifying information of the students in all cases but the one I evidently missed, and making sure not to use any names while speaking on the telephone, my sincerity in this regard would be clear. My problem was with the university's mishandling of the situation far more so than the motivation for a particular student to cheat on his assignment. I would hope that the pages upon pages I've written on this subject makes that point fairly clear. I appreciate your feedback, but you appear to be misjudging my mistake (with square quotes) as a deliberate act. Had you been able to observe my going through the many pages of materials that I forwarded to the reporter, removing the identifying information of the students in all cases but the one I evidently missed, and making sure not to use any names while speaking on the telephone, my sincerity in this regard would be clear. My problem was with the university’s mishandling of the situation far more so than the motivation for a particular student to cheat on his assignment. I would hope that the pages upon pages I’ve written on this subject makes that point fairly clear.

]]> Comment on Proposed Changes to MCF Policy by Victor E http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-144 Victor E Fri, 22 Jan 2010 05:37:21 +0000 http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47#comment-144 If you are so concerned about privacy maybe you would've taken enough care so as no to "inadvertently" disclose the name of a student you suspect to have cheated to the media. If you are so concerned about privacy maybe you would’ve taken enough care so as no to “inadvertently” disclose the name of a student you suspect to have cheated to the media.

]]> Comment on Proposed Changes to MCF Policy by [McGill student] http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-119 [McGill student] Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:30:09 +0000 http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47#comment-119 Yes the policy is a bit lax and, should you have had access to the minutes (which are not up yet), you would have noticed that there are several other problems that Senators pointed out. In corporations, having access and snooping through user's files is common practice. Some do it less than others, but in case of some sort of conflict/special event this happens anywhere. And it does not have to be as much as a subpoena. Is it ethical? Is McGill an enterprise? So what if they do it? Any large-ish institution will have its own policies. If one does not like them, one is free to express their opinion. Now, one can poke fun at their policies and place themselves in an "aggressive" position, and make a lot of noise. Sometimes that will work and it is exactly what is required (see how students got a place in the Senate in the first place). It might actually be easier to join the power structures and get a chance to understand where "they" stand and then work with the people. People can seem scary and mean from far away; get to talk to them and you learn they are not that bad (usually). It's like debating: if one takes the time to really think through the other side's point of view one might learn that their opinion is (generally) not quite as "obviously correct" as one thought. Yes the policy is a bit lax and, should you have had access to the minutes (which are not up yet), you would have noticed that there are several other problems that Senators pointed out.
In corporations, having access and snooping through user’s files is common practice. Some do it less than others, but in case of some sort of conflict/special event this happens anywhere. And it does not have to be as much as a subpoena. Is it ethical? Is McGill an enterprise? So what if they do it?
Any large-ish institution will have its own policies. If one does not like them, one is free to express their opinion. Now, one can poke fun at their policies and place themselves in an “aggressive” position, and make a lot of noise. Sometimes that will work and it is exactly what is required (see how students got a place in the Senate in the first place). It might actually be easier to join the power structures and get a chance to understand where “they” stand and then work with the people. People can seem scary and mean from far away; get to talk to them and you learn they are not that bad (usually).
It’s like debating: if one takes the time to really think through the other side’s point of view one might learn that their opinion is (generally) not quite as “obviously correct” as one thought.

]]> Comment on Proposed Changes to MCF Policy by wsetmount rental http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47&cpage=1#comment-118 wsetmount rental Sun, 03 Jan 2010 23:23:54 +0000 http://degradingmcgill.ca/blog/?p=47#comment-118 The pendulum can swing both ways. Do we have the right not to have a password or publish our passwords? The University administration needs to ensure privacy of passwords so students do not access/modify their grades. In order to ensure equal respect for the University system as a whole, a list of those accessing your e-mail accounts should be logged by the e-mail account holder-This should be a programmed feature of the e-mail. The e-mail account is equivalent to a private residence and should require a search warrant. Accordingly, a court order must be issued to the account holder prior accessing the e-mail account. When a researcher applies for a grant, the names of the students are not included unless a written permission from the student is obtained. Accordingly, access to the e-mail will reveal correspondence between professor and student and the student must be notified that his/her name has been accessed without permission of the correspondent (i.e., professor). This is in clear violation of NSERC-government regulations. The pendulum can swing both ways. Do we have the right not to have a password or publish our passwords? The University administration needs to ensure privacy of passwords so students do not access/modify their grades. In order to ensure equal respect for the University system as a whole, a list of those accessing your e-mail accounts should be logged by the e-mail account holder-This should be a programmed feature of the e-mail.
The e-mail account is equivalent to a private residence and should require a search warrant. Accordingly, a court order must be issued to the account holder prior accessing the e-mail account.

When a researcher applies for a grant, the names of the students are not included unless a written permission from the student is obtained. Accordingly, access to the e-mail will reveal correspondence between professor and student and the student must be notified that his/her name has been accessed without permission of the correspondent (i.e., professor). This is in clear violation of NSERC-government regulations.

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