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Ruckus downloading program rejected after trial semester
University considering other legal file sharing programs
By Mary Specht on 6/27/05
AU will discontinue Ruckus, a music and movie downloading program offered last spring, after a survey of 398 students conducted in April revealed many didn't support the service during its free trial period. The university is still considering several other legal file sharing programs with input from students, including the Residence Hall Association, which announced on Sunday it will recommend Napster.
About one-third of respondents, 36 percent, said Ruckus should not be offered for the 2005-'06 academic year. Nearly half, 41 percent, said their use of the program declined during the semester. The same number said the service, which would cost $18 per semester, should be offered, but on a conditional basis.
Many students said it should be offered only if a subscription is optional, if Mac users could access the service - which they unable to do in the spring - or if the music could be moved to mp3 players or CDs.
The University is looking into other music and movie downloading programs, according to Julie Weber, director of Housing and Dining, even though surveyed students were almost evenly split over whether it is important for AU to offer the service.
While 43 percent of respondents said providing the program is "not important" or "somewhat important," 47 percent thought it was "important" or "very important." Ten percent were undecided.
About half of students surveyed, 47 percent, didn't use the program during the free trial. Weber said the participation level at AU was about the same as at George Washington University, which performed a similar trial using Napster last fall.
"I personally think fifty percent is pretty good," Weber said. "Getting fifty percent of our students to do anything is pretty good."
A handful of student leaders have been testing other downloading programs, including Napster, Cdigix and Rhapsody. Next week Weber will meet with them to discuss the trials and the possibility of trying another service.
About one-third of respondents, 36 percent, said Ruckus should not be offered for the 2005-'06 academic year. Nearly half, 41 percent, said their use of the program declined during the semester. The same number said the service, which would cost $18 per semester, should be offered, but on a conditional basis.
Many students said it should be offered only if a subscription is optional, if Mac users could access the service - which they unable to do in the spring - or if the music could be moved to mp3 players or CDs.
The University is looking into other music and movie downloading programs, according to Julie Weber, director of Housing and Dining, even though surveyed students were almost evenly split over whether it is important for AU to offer the service.
While 43 percent of respondents said providing the program is "not important" or "somewhat important," 47 percent thought it was "important" or "very important." Ten percent were undecided.
About half of students surveyed, 47 percent, didn't use the program during the free trial. Weber said the participation level at AU was about the same as at George Washington University, which performed a similar trial using Napster last fall.
"I personally think fifty percent is pretty good," Weber said. "Getting fifty percent of our students to do anything is pretty good."
A handful of student leaders have been testing other downloading programs, including Napster, Cdigix and Rhapsody. Next week Weber will meet with them to discuss the trials and the possibility of trying another service.
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