Considering “ In Loco Parentis” in Cyberspace

1. Considering “In Loco Parentis” in Cyberspace Tim McGovern Manager, IT Security Support Client Support Services Information Systems & Technology MIT TJM@mit.edu

2. Disclaimer • This is a discussion of the concept of In Loco Parentis generally, and specifically in Cyberspace, as it relates to MIT’s student community. • Nothing said or implied herein should be interpreted as applying to how faculty, employees, visitors and guests would be treated under similar conditions.

3. Context for ILP @ MIT • We give independent-minded students freedom, but with that comes responsibility • Hacking traditions • http://hacks.mit.edu/Hacks/ • “All Tech men carry batteries” -- apocryphal story from the ‘40s. • MIT policy … note level of detail! • http://mit.edu/policies • Student Code of Conduct • Null pointer! • See the MIT Bulletin for a broad range of student oriented rights, responsibilities, policies and procedures • http://web.mit.edu/catalogue/

4. Is it the dawn of a new era? • 1983-1991 Project Athena • An intentionally interconnected set of machines, services and user communities based on a philosophy of collaboration in pursuit of education & instructional • 1988 - Principles of Responsible Use • Appeared as "Statement of Ethics” in CACM in June 1989. • “With that … comes the responsibility to use the system in accordance with M.I.T.'s standards of honesty and personal conduct…[which] call for all members of the community to act in a responsible, ethical, and professional way.” • 1992 - Stopit [Ombudsman, Dean of Students and IT] • Principles of Civility • Reasonable Person Standard • Non-judicial, no-record, mediation-oriented, educational approach

5. Today’s MIT Bulletin Speaks… • MIT expects that all students come to the Institute for a serious academic purpose and expects them to be responsible individuals who conduct themselves with high standards of honesty and personal conduct. Disappointments in this expectation have been rare. Therefore, it is MIT's policy to maintain rules and regulations consistent with efficient administration and the general welfare of the MIT community. • Fundamental to the principle of independent learning and professional growth is the requirement of honesty and integrity in conduct of one's academic and nonacademic life. Maintenance of a healthy living and learning environment requires that all members of the community exercise due respect for the basic rights of one another.

6. Our recent “debate” • Former Dean of Admissions • “Whether we acknowledge it or not, we adults at MIT do act "in loco parentis," playing a major role in the lives of our students.” • Former Dean of Student Life [Campus Preview Weekend speech (2003) to parents of incoming students] • “We are not the parent. You are still the mothers and fathers of your sons and daughters that you’re bringing to MIT. I don’t want to be the parent of your children. I’m sure they’re lovely children, but it’s not the role of MIT to be the parents. And I have to tell you, there has been increasing pressure from parents, here and across the nation,for us to play that role. We’re not going that way…” • Is the truth, and the reality somewhere in the middle?

7. Challenges Ahead • Can we move from a “discipline” focused approach to a “citizenship” focused approach? • Can Stopit continue to help? Or does it confuse things? • Can MIT represent the legitimate rights of its students against an increasingly challenging (perhaps hostile?) Federal government? Can MIT hold its students responsible for “wrongs” that are invented by the commercial sector, by unelected government regulators, etc? • Can MIT re-focus our student community on the standards that have made MIT great?