University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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direc ft from the net legal issues of downloading music The scandal surrounding Internet piracy gained momentum during the 2003-2004 academic year, and not without significant activity on the University campus. After the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) failed to curtail the popularity of file-sharing programs on the Internet, it switched tactics and began directly suing downloaders, including students nationwide. The suits were meant to effect the entire public, explaining to them the illegality and criminality of illegal downloading. Napster, the original peer-to-peer network for users to trade music, was forced to close down in 2001 following a legal battle with recording companies. After the suit, many students on campus encountered problems with other databases like Kazaa during downloads they assumed were preventative measures on behalf of the music industry. A piercing static noise, almost like fingernails on a chalkboard, cuts off the ends of songs a lot. I wouldn ' t be surprised if that is no accident it certainly discourages me from downloading, because half the time I can ' t even listen to the songs, said Jessica Goske, senior sports marketing major. In 2002, Andrew Palms, Director of Program Development for the University ' s IT Communications, said in a letter to students that statistics showed that at least 24% of the by kara deboer University of Michigan ' s Internet use is generated by mp3s. The University encouraged students to curb online music exchanges. Incorporated in the Conditions of Use for students on the University network was an item stating that users could not upload files illegally on the internet. Such activities were monitored by the University Residential Computing staff and, if found in violation, resulted in punishing or legal actions. When the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), failed to improve the situation for recording artists frustrated with copyright issues, they took early action on protecting digital programming. In October, the FCC released plans to enforce safeguards on digital broadcasts of television shows and movies. Digital broadcasts were easier than those of satellites or cable networks to distribute on the Internet, and therefore raised much apprehension for Hollywood and other television and movie producers; if they were not prevented, consumers could freely access and share movie and, television files in the same way they had music. At the end of October Napster 2.0 debuted. The newly reconstructed program charged service fees comparative to othei paid downloading programs in addition to one dollar charges fo single songs and ten dollar charges for entire albums. 106 Voices

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Senior biology major Josh Grant works with students as a GSI for Chemistry 2 1 1 organic chemistry lab. Students enjoyed working with Grant because he was closer in age and could make lab more fun. S. Thomas photo issues graduate student politics by kara deboer The Graduate Employees ' Organization (GEO) at the University was the second-oldest in the nation, representing about 1,600 Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs). According to its website, the organization was an activist, democratic and volunteer-run organization where graduate employees come together to improve the wages and working conditions for themselves and for those to follow. Tuition waivers and health benefits were just a few conditions the GEO had already won for its members. In the winter semester of 2003, the GEO held demonstrations to push issues with which they had grievances. On March 11, 2002, the GEO had a walk-out, which offered students the opportunity to skip class to show support for GSI and GSSA issues. The strike drew about 800 union members and undergraduate students to picket lines, and even caused students to strike on the Michigan State University campus where a GEO contract was soon to be signed. Later that month, a group of about 200 GEO members picketed on campus again. The GEO held this strike in protest of the University ' s use of a private pharmaceutical drug company and residence hall librarians ' stunted pay in comparison with all other graduate students ' pay. GEO President Dave Dobbie addressed the Regents in June 2003 on a highly contested issue for graduate student employees: the raising cost of healthcare benefits. Recently, the University has announced a departure from its long tradition of providing full healthcare benefits to employees, he said, adding that the rising costs and new structures of health provision have not changed the fundamental responsibility of the University to provide for the health... of its employees. In addition to pushing this issue, the GEO welcomed the Lecturer ' s Employee Organization (LEO), which included non-tenure-track faculty, to the bargaining table. Affiliated with the GEO, the LEO could now negotiate security, salary, and other employment arrangements. Students were used to GSIs teaching discussion sections for large lectures and other small classes. While some appreciated the youth and vivacity graduate students were able to add to their classes, some students had trouble understanding international student GSIs. Senior nursing major Janel Hasse recalls the first day of a sociology class with a foreign GSI: He walked into the first day of class and said, ' I ' ll teach you Sociology, and you ' ll teach me English. ' She continued, I don ' t remember agreeing to that trade-off. Although some students had negative experiences with GSIs, they realized that the success of the many courses relied on GS Is to help professors. Graduate Student Politics 105

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An eclectic pile of burned CDs litters the desk of a University student. Many students used CD- writing programs and burners to write music and data files onto compact disks. . Boyles photo Sopho more economics major Jason Kesner visits the new Napster website. Napster, a popular mp3 and multimedia downloading site, reopened with a new policy charging money in exchange for allowing registered users to download music. . Weiner photo me ' ' wkersiiftkywi d consumers coul ind (hare movie ID Downloading Music 107