[net.misc] UNC can't respond to Tim

toml@druxm.UUCP (LaidigTL) (05/26/84)

Several people (including me) have thought or said something like "UNC
should present their side of the story so that we can judge the issue
better, but I don't think they ever will."  Generally, this is said with
the thought that UNC is tacitly admitting total guilt in this affair by
not giving us their side of the story.  Obviously, they have no
obligation to justify their actions to us, but, if they were innocent,
surely they would want to clear their name by telling us.

This is true, but there is another side.  Suppose UNC had some good
reason for their actions re Tim.  In order to present their side of the
story, they would have to broadcast (very likely damaging) private
information about Tim.  I hope we all agree that a university should not
do this.  A university can't even send someone your transcript unless
you authorize it, so they certainly couldn't publish (to the net)
descriptions of your transgressions and punishments.

		Tom Laidig
		AT&T Information Systems Laboratories, Denver
		...!ihnp4!druxm!toml

debray@sbcs.UUCP (Saumya Debray) (05/30/84)

toml@druxm.UUCP (LaidigTL):
	> Suppose UNC had some good reason for their actions re Tim.  In
	> order to present their side of the story, they would have to
	> broadcast (very likely damaging) private information about Tim.
	> I hope we all agree that a university should not do this.

Yes, but they can certainly explain that this is the reason for their
silence. Saying nothing does little to inform us of any constraints they may
be under.
-- 
Saumya Debray, 	SUNY at Stony Brook

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