Computing & Information Services

Computing Policy Committee Minutes
January 22, 2003
2 - 3 p.m.
ETC 309

The CPC can be contacted at computing-policy@reed.edu

 

Present: Ethan Benatan, Ann Delehanty, Jim Fix, Paul Gronke, Vickie Hanawalt, Ethan Jackson, Keith Karoly, Leslie Limper, Ed McFarlane, Chris Rempel, Marty Ringle, Jon Rivenburg, Tristan Trotter

Absent: Peter Steinberger

1. Report by Keith on the Computer User Agreement changes, and feedback received: Keith reported that feedback from the Reed community on the committee-approved changes implemented in the Computer User Agreement were minimal, and that people seemed to be satisfied, overall. Any changes suggested from here on out will be taken up by next year's committee. He did offer to circulate one email from a faculty member who expressed some concern about a couple of the details. Anyone who would like to see this email should let Keith know.

2. SPAM/Virus scanning and alternative email client discussion: Ethan Benatan gave a run-down of the myriad issues with spam and viruses, and Reed's progress in coming up with a plan to address these issues. Some of the major points:

  •   Everyone gets spam, and the number of cases is increasing by leaps and bounds. Spammers are getting more and more clever, and more and more able to get around tools meant to stop them.
  • Reed doesn't want to get into the business of deciding which messages get to users and which don't, so the only effective way to address spam is with filters that tag messages as spam and enabling users to decide what happens to these messages once they've been identified. Users should have the latitude of immediately discarding all messages labeled as spam, directing them to a special "spam" folder for future viewing or discarding, aggregating them all in one part of the "inbox," or taking other actions based on the spam-filtering capabilities of their email client.
  • BlitzMail does not have the necessary filtering capabilities to handle spam. So CIS is looking into options which will meet our needs better than BlitzMail (in particular, needs around spam/virus filtering). CIS proposes to move to the Internet standard mail architecture, IMAP. This will provide us with many client choices. CIS is evaluating webmail clients, Apple’s OS X Mail, and others, and will select several to support. Care will be taken so that Windows users get a supported option as well.
  • Additional benefits from this transition will include increased mail storage space, a webmail option, and virus filtering.
  • CIS is investigating how to provide, with the new system, features analogous to BlitzMail’s bulletins and nicknames.
  • The phasing out of BlitzMail will be gradual, and will overlap with the use of the new client. Beginning next fall semester, it is likely that new students and faculty will be issued IMAP rather than Blitz accounts.
  • Efforts will continue within the Reed community to keep "in-house" spam (mass messages from different departments) to a minimum.

(If you did not receive a copy of Ethan's full briefing, please contact Tristan, and she will get you one.)

The committee gave unanimous approval for CIS to proceed with server-side spam, virus, and worm screening. Messages identified as spam will be tagged and forwarded. Messages identified as carrying viruses or worms will be relieved of their "malware" payloads though the text of those messages will be forwarded to users; senders and the Postmaster will be informed of the virus, and CUS will be able to help retrieve interdicted messages if necessary. Successors (both web and client based) will be identified and deployed by CIS, by fall 2003 if possible. BlitzMail will continue to be supported for some months (possibly as much as a year) beyond the introduction of the new email software in order to permit long-time Blitz users sufficient time to make a graceful transition. Members of the CPC will be asked to provide feedback on prospective email packages.

3. Update to Theft/Loss Policy: Discussion of this item was tabled until the next meeting. Marty outlined the issue: There have been cases where faculty or staff have repeatedly neglected or misused college computing equipment, sometimes resulting in thousands of dollars of necessary repairs. The CPC is asked to amend the Theft/Loss policy to provide guidance regarding steps that CIS should take when chronic negligence is encountered.

 

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Last modified: October 15, 2003