I should be asleep, but I cannot with this on my mind.
The University of South Florida scans all internet usage for potential violations of file sharing law/policy/whatever the heck it wants. I assume that it is somewhere in the usage agreement which must be agreed to prior to use. Regardless, this is an unconstitutional violation of my protection against unreasonable and unwarranted searches as well as a violation of my right to use those services for which I’ve paid.
Specifically, the use of the internet is required for modern college education. Honestly, that point needs no explanation. From the required online research to the required use of Blackboard; denying use of the internet, while simultaneously requiring it, is the same thing as denying students an education.
I don’t mean to say that the school does not have the right to deny admissions for any number of reasons or specify rules for the use of included services, but the requirement that students forfeit the right to privacy is not one of those rights. The University of South Florida, is a state university. It is an agent of the State of Florida, and its requirement that searches be allowed is similarly, an action of the state.
This is, however, a false choice. While it appears a option exists to maintain your right to privacy, this option is plainly that you do not receive a college education. Public universities are THE mechanism for higher education. They are funded by state-wide and federal taxes. They are the only semi-affordable educational opportunity. And, they are not an option at all.
College education is a requirement in today’s society. It is a Right. Without at least a bachelor’s degree no reasonably good job may be had. The old option(or rather standard), of apprenticeship has not only died, but has been brutally killed by the systematic licensing of every possible profession. It has gotten to the point that the word profession, is defined by whether a license is required. If not, it is simply a job or career, but no profession. And if these reasonable professions cannot be reached without a college degree, imagine something like, god forbid, a lawyer. In that case, you can’t even get into college to qualify to take the licensing test to be admitted to the bar to practice law without first going to another college.
So the ‘options’ are simple: 1. Forfeit your right to privacy or 2. Forfeit your right to Education and to Pursue Happiness
PS. Doesn’t a College’s aliegence lie with its students? It is not their duty to protect the interests of their students? To protect their rights to the utmost allowed by law? To promote liberty? Democracy? Dare I say, Civil Disobenience?
