Recommended Guidelines for Responsible Computing at the University of Delaware - Preface - The Research Center on Computing & Society

Text-only Version

Prepared by staff in Computing and Network Services,
University of Delaware

1. Preface

The computer has become a common denominator that knows no intellectual, political, or bureaucratic bounds; the Sherwin Williams of necessity that covers the world, spanning all points of view.... I wish that we lived in a golden age, where ethical behavior was assumed; where technically competent programmers respected the privacy of others; where we didn’t need locks on our computers.... Fears for security really do louse up the free flow of information. Science and social progress only take place in the open. The paranoia that hackers leave in their wake only stifles our work.

Cliff Stoll, The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy
Through the Maze of Computer Espionage

One of the interesting facets of Cliff Stoll’s The Cuckoo’s Egg is his growing awareness of the responsibilities all computer users have to each other. It is our hope that this set of Guidelines can foster that same understanding in the University of Delaware community.

It is imperative that all users of the University’s computing and information resources realize how much these resources require responsible behavior from all users. Simply put, we are all responsible for the well-being of the computing, network, and information resources we use.

Universities do try to promote the open exchange of ideas; however, an open, cooperative computing network can be vulnerable to abuse or misuse. As more and more schools, colleges, universities, businesses, government agencies, and other enterprises become attached to the worldwide computing and information networks, it is more important than ever that this University educate its students, faculty, and staff about proper ethical behavior, acceptable computing practices, and how “computer vandalism” interferes with the exchange of ideas that is integral to a modern education.

The first item in the body of this document is the University’s Policy for Responsible Computing Use, passed by the Faculty Senate of the University of Delaware on [date will go here]. The remainder of this document consists of recommended guidelines for implementing this policy. If you have any questions about the policy or the guidelines, please consult with your system administrator, with the staff in Computing and Network Services, or with your dean, project director, supervisor, chair, or advisor.

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