Editor,
The out-of-the-blue decision to unilaterally block Facebook.com as a first response to concerns about it without an open and transparent process is an inexcusable violation of basic respect for students at UNM.
The few cryptic excuses given are illogical and fall apart under minor scrutiny. To say nothing of the blatant disregard for student opinions or rights, the actions of CIRT can at best be described as incompetent, but are more accurately an example of improper intervention and inexcusably arbitrary reactionary behavior.
Blocking a Web site because of minor issues, even while attempting to work out an ultimate solution, reveals an administration unable to work through those issues in a logical manner without overreacting.
For instance, the security problems cited have simple solutions that a few campuswide e-mails could solve.
1. The Facebook Web site itself requires an .edu e-mail address to keep non-students off, and to verify that students are affiliated with the University they say they are. It is necessary for the system to work securely. However, on its front page, Facebook notes that you should not use your same password - right there in bright red lettering. Even if people missed that, a simple security advisory reminding students of this would solve the oh-so grave security problem of the Facebook.
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2. The so-called spamming of UNM e-mail servers can also be rectified by requesting students enter in a preferred e-mail address at Hotmail or Yahoo on their contact information page on the Facebook Web site, so the friend and group notifications will be directed there, instead of to the school servers.
3. The existence of scam and duplicate Web sites on the Internet are common. Do we block eBay because it can be spoofed? The entire student body should not be punished because some people aren't very smart and will toss their information anywhere without thinking. The UNM e-mail system is vulnerable to the exact same sort of spoofing problem that apparently justifies the blocking of Facebook. Thus, we should apparently block access to UNM e-mail until matters can be resolved.
4. UNM has no grounds to whine about confusion over affiliation. You would be hard-pressed to find a single student dumb enough to think Facebook.com is run by or endorsed by UNM, and once again, a simple campuswide notification would rectify the problem.
Asking students about the problem before resorting to blocking would have revealed these simple, easy-to-implement solutions, without having to contact legal counsel and get all bent out of shape.
Thanks for respecting us, CIRT.
Sean Duffy
UNM student
