Acceptable Computer Use

User Responsibility:

All users of electronic information resources such as the INTERNET are expected to use these resources in a responsible manner, consistent with the educational and informational purposes for which they are provided, and to follow the rules and regulations of Truman State University. Campus policy: Truman State University Acceptable Use of Electronic Information Resources

Responsible, ethical use of such resources includes the following:

       1. Using resources for educational and informational purposes only.

       2. Respecting the privacy of others by not misrepresenting oneself as another user; by not attempting to modify or gain access to files, passwords, or data belonging to others; by not seeking unauthorized access to any computer system, or damaging or altering software components of any network or database.

       3. Using one’s own account and password only for the purpose for which they are intended and not letting others use one’s account or password.

        4.Making only authorized copies of copyrighted or licensed software or data.

        5. Not sending, receiving, or displaying, text or graphics which may reasonably be construed as obscene.

Rules  2-4 conform to the Student Conduct Code, Section 8.050 “Proscribed Conduct, #16”

Truman State University Code of Conduct

Approved August 5, 2000

ARTICLE 8.050 Proscribed Conduct. The following acts are prohibited, and any student or student organization found to have committed, to have attempted to commit, or to have willfully aided or abetted any of the following acts of misconduct is subject to the disciplinary sanctions hereafter described in this chapter.

16. Theft or the abuse of computer time on University computers or network including but not limited to:
    1.  Unauthorized entry into a file, to use, read, or change the contents, or for any other purpose;
    2.  Unauthorized transfer of a file;
    3.  Unauthorized use of another individual’s identification, password or computer account;
    4.  Use of computing facilities or network that interferes with the work of any member of the
          University community;
    5.  Use of computing facilities or network to send obscene, abusive, or threatening messages;
         or a computer virus;
    6.  Use of computing facilities or network that interferes with normal operation of the
          University computing system;
    7.  Use of computing facilities or network for any purpose which violates copyright laws; or
    8.  Taking any action to intentionally circumvent computer or network security.

18.  Conduct that is immoral or obscene based on contemporary community standards or which is detrimental to the University’s image as a public institution.

Acts of misconduct by a student or student organization shall be cumulative in effect, and all acts of misconduct may be considered together in deciding whether the Student Conduct Code has been violated and, if a violation is found, the imposition of sanctions.

Cross-reference:  Sections 5.070 and 7.020 of the Code

REVISED STATUTES OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

573.010 Definitions
(2) “Displays publicly”, exposing, placing, posting, exhibiting, or in any fashion displaying in any location, whether public or private, an item in such a manner that it may be readily seen and its contents or character distinguished by normal unaided vision viewing it from a street, highway or  public sidewalk , or from the property of others of from any portion of the person’s store, or the exhibitor’s store or property when items and material other than this material are offered for sale or rent to the public.

573.060 Public display of explicit sexual material
1. A person commits the crime of public display of explicit sexual material if he knowingly
    (1) Displays publicly explicit sexual material; or
    (2) Fails to take prompt action to remove such a display from property in his possession
          after learning of its existence.

2. Public display of explicit sexual material is a class A misdemeanor unless the person has pleaded guilty to or has been found guilty of an offense under this section committed at a different time, in which case it is a class D felony.

3. For purposes of this section, each day there is a violation of this section shall constitute a separate offense.

Library Responsibility: 

The Internet provides a means to access information far beyond the Library’s own collections.  While the Library is responsible for making its subscription-based databases and government publications accessible through the Internet, the Library cannot be responsible for other Internet sources with problems of any kind, including but not limited to:

• Accuracy
• Offensive/Illegal sites
• User problems regarding accessing, downloading, or 
  printing information
• Any user’s sending of offensive/illegal information through Library computers

Effective: August 24, 1999