Since high speed networks hit campuses just a few years ago and a “Port for every Pillow” was introduced to campus residence halls in 1998, many students discovered music sharing over the internet.  Music sharing through Peer to Peer networks started with Napster and spread to a number of other software service providers.  Music sharing through peer-to-peer connections is generally illegal because it violates the artists/producers copyright to the work. Over the past few years the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has brought law suits against students who knowingly or unknowingly share music from their personal computers over a high speed network. Since college campuses were first to provide this level of service, and students are avid music consumers, this population was quick to make use of the capabilities of the network often they became the target of the RIAA for illegal music downloading.

SU first offered a free web based music service in 2006, but changed partners in the Spring 2007.  Ruckus Networks, www.ruckus.com, offers a web  hosted service with music and video content. You can download the free Ruckus player and start listening to any of over 2,000,000 music tracks. This service is available to both on and off campus students and can also be used on breaks back at home.  Enjoy!

Jerome Waldron, CIO