Tuesday, February 1, 1994

NEWSGROUP POLICY:  UW president James Downey yesterday issued a memo
with his decision on what to do about allegedly obscene material on
computer "newsgroups".  The policy stops short of banning any newsgroup, 
but leaves open the possibility that one or more could be banned if specific 
complaints are found by the UW ethics committee to be justified.  The 
committee has faculty, student and staff members and is currently chaired 
by Sally Gunz of the school of accountancy, herself a lawyer.

Here is the text of Downey's memo:

    Last fall I became aware that certain newsgroups on the
    Internet carried material which was almost certainly obscene
    and therefore contrary to the Criminal Code. Advice from the
    University solicitor was unequivocal: under the Criminal Code
    it is an offence for anyone to publish or distribute obscene
    material, and the University is running a risk of prosecution
    if it knowingly receives and distributes obscene material. In
    these circumstances I felt the University had to act to
    protect itself.

    I am aware, of course, that this is a sensitive area: there
    is no precise and agreed-on measurement of where on the scale
    of human taste pornography begins. So before taking any
    action I wished to assure myself that the course we might
    choose to follow was both responsible and defensible.
    Following consultations with Matt Erickson, Co-ordinator of
    Ethical Behaviour and Human Rights, and the Ethics Committee,
    which has responsibility and experience in handling
    complaints about computer pornography, I am now authorizing
    implementation of the following process:

    Complaints concerning newsgroups which contain material
    considered to be obscene are to be referred to the Ethics
    Committee. The Ethics Committee, with advice from legal
    counsel as appropriate, will make a recommendation to the
    Vice-President, Academic & Provost for the removal of any
    newsgroups it judges to be carrying obscene material. 
    Requests to have a restricted newsgroup reinstated would also
    be handled by reference to the Ethics Committee. Any member
    of the University community requiring access to a restricted
    newsgroup for academic purposes can make application to the
    Vice-President, Academic & Provost.

    This approach is, I believe, defensible because a
    university's practices cannot be contrary to the law. It is
    consistent with recommendations put forward in the Report of
    the Advisory Committee on Network News (May 30, 1991),
    refining them to address the circumstances of illegal
    material not contemplated in that report.

    I am mindful of concerns about the principles of free
    speech and expression in an academic environment.
    Universities, however, are not above the law and their
    policies and procedures should not be contrary to the law. It
    is important to note that, while the Charter of Rights and
    Freedoms provides for free speech, that freedom is subject to
    limitations that are deemed to be reasonable in a free and
    democratic society. In February of last year, the Supreme
    Court of Canada upheld the obscenity provisions of the
    Criminal Code as being a justifiable restriction on freedom
    of expression in order to protect, in particular, women and
    children from the harm of violent, degrading, and
    dehumanizing pornography.

BAORD MEETS TODAY:  UW's board of governors meets this afternoon (3:30,
Needles Hall 3001).  On the agenda: residence fees for next year; "guidelines"
suggested by the government for future appointment of board members.

FORUM ON FEES:  The last in a series of forums sponsored by the Federation
of Students, to give students a chance to air their views on "ancillary"
fees for services, will be held this morning.  It starts at 10 a.m. in 
Davis Centre room 1301.

EATING DISORDERS:  To help mark Eating Disorder Awareness Week, displays
are set up in the Campus Centre today, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Information
will be available and there will be a chance to talk with a representative
of a group, based at Wilfrid Laurier University, that is doing a "needs
assessment" on the WLU and UW campuses for programs touching on dieting, 
"weight preoccupation", and eating disorders such as bulimia and anorexia.
The film "The Famine Within" will be shown throughout the day.  UW's
contact person on eating disorders is Marilyn Goodbrand of counselling
services, ext. 2655.

NOVELIST WILL READ:  Poet, novelist and editor Barry Callaghan reads at
3:30 today in the common room of St. Jerome's College; all are welcome.

INTERVIEW WORKSHOP:  The co-op department reports that the Interview
Skills workp which was to take place on Friday, but was cancelled because
of the storm, has been rescheduled for tomorrow: Wednesday, 1:30 to
3:30 p.m., Math and Computer room 5158.  Students who plan to attend
are asked to sign up at the co-op deparatment's reception desk, Needles
Hall 1101.

Chris Redmond
Information and Public Affairs
credmond@watserv1    ext. 3004