mcovingt@athena.cs.uga.edu (Michael A. Covington) (06/19/91)
I'm beginning to think I should never have attempted to defend the University's actions in this case because: (1) I can't post all the relevant facts because of confidentialty of student records and because of a related ongoing investigation. (2) I don't have time to keep answering specious arguments. This student mailed an /etc/passwd file to an intruder who was already using another University machine without authorization and who was attempting various destructive acts (details cannot be released). Our student knew that by mailing this file, he was aiding an attempted break-in. This student was tried and sentenced under the University's conduct regulations, principally the rule against making or aiding unauthorized use of University facilities. He could equally well have faced criminal charges under the Georgia Computer Systems Protection Act, but the University's Office of Judicial Programs chose to be lenient. Those of you who think this was unfair are welcome to write to our administrators and suggest changes in our conduct regulations, or write to the Georgia legislature and suggest changes in the laws. -- ------------------------------------------------------- Michael A. Covington | Artificial Intelligence Programs The University of Georgia | Athens, GA 30602 U.S.A. -------------------------------------------------------