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Schools to Avoid: University of Florida
Iphtashu Fitz writes "The University of Florida has apparently come up with a technological approach to deal with P2P file sharing on their campus networks. According to this article on wired.com they have developed a program that scans the PCs of students in the UF dorm rooms. The program, dubbed 'Icarus' not only detects P2P applications but viruses, worms, and other trojans. If a P2P application is found then an e-mail is sent to the user, a message is popped up on their screen, and their internet connection is disconnected. First time offenders lose their connection for 30 minutes. The second offense results in a 5 day loss. The third strike results in an indefinite loss of connectivity. An editorial in The Independent Florida Alligator, the student newspaper, called the use of Icarus 'an invasive and annoying system that further deters students from living in dorms (see also another story).'"
Assumption of guilt, for one.
Anything you might ever need to say about anything has already been said better by Penny Arcade.
Story on How the Budget Crunch is Affecting Florida Admissions and Forced Expulsions
About a year ago, I moved to Florida to help my parents out with a business they purchased. After they were set up, I went to finish my CS degree. I attempted to transfer in with a 3.6 GPA coming from Purdue University in Fort Wayne.
I tried one Florida college, drove over, spoke with a Computer Science advisor. One of the first things he told me was that he knew many graduates that had to work as McDonalds. He was very heavy in his implied assertion that I should not come to this school. After attempting to transfer in my transcript, my GPA was dropped from a 3.6 down to less than a 3.1 - and I was denied admission to the school. I was shocked and disgusted.
So, I tried another Florida college in a nearby city. I was able to transfer my credits and gain acceptance into the college... but then I learned what I'd have to do to graduate. I was expecting perhaps an extra semester... but instead I learned that I'd have to take several classes over again. Ones I'd already taken for a larger number of credits. But in order to even take those classes, I'd have to re-take many pre-requisites. But in order to take those, I'd have to be allowed into the CS program. In order to get into the CS program, I'd have to take gateway courses (which I'd already taken effectively), in order to take the gateway courses, I'd have to take pre-requisites which I'd already taken. Their program would not allow me to take any of these programs at the same time. So, instead of one extra semester, I would have to take 3 extra years of classes. This was told to me directly by the head of their department.
At this point, I knew I just had to leave Florida. I love helping the folks out, but it's just impossible to transfer classes. And it's not like I haven't had experience with this - I've transferred to two other colleges without incident, without any major loss in credits either. It's just that Florida seems to have gone insane.
Ryan Fenton