Message-ID: <EiiLQzC00awXNQvG8a@andrew.cmu.edu>
Date: Thu,  3 Nov 1994 18:50:23 -0500 (EST)
From: Dominick R Frollini <df2x+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Content-Type: X-BE2; 12
If-Type-Unsupported: alter
To: Bulletin Board Administration
    <bb+graffiti.bboard-censorship@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: message to C. Services

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Here's a copy of a message I sent to Computing Services -- 


\bold{Date}: Thu,  3 Nov 1994 14:29:01 -0500 (EST)

\bold{From}: Dominick R Frollini <df2x+@andrew.cmu.edu>

\bold{To}: Advisor <advisor+@andrew.cmu.edu>

\bold{Subject}: Re: Sexually Explicit Bboards

\bold{Cc}: Dominick R Frollini <df2x+@andrew.cmu.edu>


Mr. Kuszewski:


While I realize that Computing Services is only following the 'new' university 
policy, I believe that policy to be invalid and in violation of the 
constitutional rights of each member of the university community.


Regarding the distribution of pornographic materials, in the U.S. Supreme 
Court's landmark Mapp decision, it was ruled that possessing materials that 
may be considered pronographic does NOT constitute intent to distribute...


Furthermore, the university assumes that because it is providing 'access' to 
materials that may be considered pornographic (the issue of what constitutes 
pornographic material is still 'up in the air', I might add) that it is 
DISTRIBUTING said materials. However, the university merely provides a means 
by which members of the CMU community may or may not access the internet 
news-groups, some of which may be considered offensive by certain groups or 
individuals.


If the university is concerned with eliminating 'offensive' newsgroups, then 
it should remove any groups which contain posts related to violence, as some 
consider that to be extremely offensive (for instance, many of the sports 
newsgroups). Further, any groups relating to photography and painting, which 
create 'graven images' which many Middle-Eastern religions consider highly 
offensive should also be removed, as should any newsgroups that discuss any 
foods that are non-Kosher. In addition, role-playing games groups as well as 
any other newsgroups that relate to the fantastic or supernatural should be 
removed as well.


In short, no one has the right to label ANY material as offensive. Period. 
Furthermore, if a man steals weapons from a gun store and uses them to commit 
violent crimes, is the owner of the store held liable? Certainly not. 
Similarly, by providing FREE and UNRESTRICTED access to the internet, the 
university could NOT be held liable for information that any individual user 
may or may not wish to see. 


And that's what it boils down to, isn't it? Very much like violence on 
television, if you don't want to see the material that you find 'offensive,' 
don't look at it...


Sincerely,

Dominick R. Frollini


---------------------------------------------


Regards

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Dominick R. Frollini                      + "I want to know God's thoughts

Carnegie-Mellon University                +   -- the rest are details..."

Industrial Management Major               +   

Computer Consultant, Department of Drama  +               -Albert Einstein

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