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September 2005
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CAMPUS NEWS |
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Opens Doors to Napster, Sends Ruckus Packing As part of its quest to keep up with student demand for music downloading, AU decided to evaluate Napster and discontinue its pilot program with Ruckus this year. Student Government President Kyle Taylor told The Eagle that Napster, half the price of Ruckus, was chosen because it offers a better variety of songs. Napster, unlike Ruckus, offers the opportunity to transfer music to compatible MP3 players and buy songs to keep forever and burn onto CDs. If students choose not to purchase music, they can listen to songs as streaming audio that will remain on their computer as long as they own a Napster account. The main downside to Napster, like Ruckus, is that it is incompatible with Macintosh computers and iPods because Apple has chosen not to associate itself with other digital music programs. The multitude of students who own Apple electronics are dissatisfied. Sophomore Will McGahan owns a Windows-operating PC and an iPod, but refuses to use Napster even to keep music on his computer. "I didn't use Ruckus and I won't use Napster because I can't put any of the music on my iPod," said McGahan. "That's what matters most to me. I'm around my iPod more than my computer." Julie Weber, executive director of AU Housing and Dining Programs, said the AU administration is not considering iTunes as an option because the program does not offer tethered music, also known as streaming audio. Despite its incompatibility with Apple products, Napster offers educational opportunities. When Penn State made Napster available to its faculty and staff, professors began using the program as a tool in the classroom. Time will tell if this concept becomes a trend among other universities. AU is continually improving its technology and offering better services to students. If Napster receives positive feedback from students and its contract is renewed, it would be no surprise to walk into a music class in the new Katzen Arts Center as early as next school year and find a professor using Napster to broaden students' understanding of music, much the same way as AU's Washington College of Law uses Podcasts. The university has been trying for several years to tackle the ubiquitous problem of students illegally downloading music, mostly through education and awareness. "We tried our best to let students know the ramifications of illegal downloading," said Weber. AU offered Ruckus, a legal alternative, in spring 2005 as a response to the Recording Industry Association of America suing students. Negative feedback about Ruckus encouraged AU administration to consider other options. AU began the pilot program with Napster on Aug. 30. It is only available to students residing on campus and in Park Bethesda. -Tara Shlimowitz '08 |
