Twin Students of Different Mothers Want Internet Filters

Students want Internet filters.  The common sense of college students must be shocking to the American Library Association [ALA] and its acolytes who oppose filters.  See what Lauren Hood at the University of Florida and Phil Cleary at Gustavus Adolphus College say:

Lauren Hood, the University of Florida student, said:

I see a homeless man, in his sixties, watching porn on the library computers!!!

My mouth literally dropped open and I just stared because I honestly didn’t know how to react; was there really a homeless man watching porn in Library West?  ....

We shouldn’t have to have firewalls and security walking around monitoring our actions....  But when it comes to watching any type of nudity or pornography, there really should be a block in the computer system. ....

Firewalls should be put up so pornography and nudity couldn’t be available on public computers, unless for research purposes.

Source:  "Homeless Man in Library," by Lauren Hood, Chomp Life, 19 February 2010.

Phil Cleary, the Gustavus Adolphus College student, said:

Currently, our Internet-usage policies make no explicit statement regarding pornography. ....

Accordingly, the development of transparent guidelines governing the network usage of campus computers and resources would affirm that Gustavus seeks to provide all students with an environment for learning and living that is both supporting and nurturing.  Therefore, I advocate the implementation of the following two proposals:

1. Have pornography filters installed on all campus-owned computers.   Public computers in library open space can be exempt from having the software installed to ensure that filtering doesn’t hamper academic research.
2. Give students the option of installing this software on their personal computers, much in the same manner that students install anti-virus software before accessing the school’s network.  Because this would increase compliance with the intended use of the College’s technology resources of supporting “teaching, learning, research and campus services,” the bandwidth allocation connected to a student’s MAC address could be increased by 50 percent.

Clearly, these proposals are two tangible common-sense campus reforms that are non-invasive, hardly restrictive and would go far in promoting a more positive community in the student body.

Source:  "Internet Policies and Pornography," Phil Cleary, The Gustavian Weekly, 19 February 2010.

Mr. Cleary mysteriously exempts "computers in library open space," likely on the mistaken belief so forcefully promoted by the ALA that filters do not work.  Notice, for example, the ALA cites an old article that filters are "overzealous," but not newer, more authoritative case law showing otherwise.  The cited link from the supposedly authoritative ALA is so old it gives the familiar 404 Not Found error!  The truth is even the ACLU, a co-litigant in US v. ALA, now admits filters are 95% effective and no longer block health-related information.  See ACLU v. Gonzales, E.D. Pa. 2007.  Besides, properly managed filters can be disabled by library staff easily enough.

And I love the suggestion that the college should provide students with Internet filters just as it provides them with computer virus filters!!  Bravo, Mr. Cleary!

These students are obviously using, even explicitly using, common sense.  You have to love clear thinking before it gets confused by ALA propaganda.  It is like Ms. Hood and Mr. Cleary are twin students of different mothers on the issue of Internet filters.  In fact, they are so young, let me disclose I had Twin Sons of Different Mothers in mind when I learned both had the same complaint and solution published on the same day in different schools.

Well done, Ms. Hood and Mr. Cleary.  Keep promoting your ideas and your common sense.  If I may help, please let me know.

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