Rev. 1 Aug 5,
2002
This Acceptable Computer Use Policy fosters the appropriate use of that network and the Internet. The following Guidelines apply to all users whenever they access the Boys & Girls Club's network.
The BGCPS network was established for
educational purposes limited to classroom activities, career development, and
independent scholastic research on appropriate subjects.
The BGCPS network was not established
as a public access service or public forum. The Club has the right to place
reasonable restrictions on the material you access or post through the system.
You may not use the BGCPS network for commercial purposes. This means you may not offer, provide, or purchase products or services through this network. You may not use the BGCPS network for political lobbying, but you may use the system to communicate with elected representatives and to express your opinion on political issues.
You will not post personal contact
information about yourself or other people. Personal contact information
includes (but is not limited to) your last name, school, home or work address,
telephone or social security numbers, and photographs. You will not agree to
meet with someone you have met online regardless of parental or staff consent.
You will promptly tell a staff member if any message you receive is
inappropriate or makes you feel uncomfortable.
You will not attempt to gain unauthorized
access to the BGCPS network or to any other computer system through the BGCPS
network. This includes attempting to log on through another person's account,
accessing another person's files, disabling or circumventing BGCPS content
filtering software, or engaging in other similar “hacking” activities.
You will not make deliberate attempts to
disrupt the computer system or destroy or modify other people’s data. You will
not knowingly spread computer viruses, Trojan horses, e-mail worms, or other
malicious computer code. You will not use the BGCPS network to engage in any
illegal act, including but not limited to arranging for the purchase or sale of
drugs or alcohol, engaging in criminal activity, or threatening the safety of
another person.
You are responsible for your individual user
password and should take all reasonable precautions to prevent others from
being able to use your password. Under no conditions should you provide your
password to another person. You will immediately notify a Club staff member if
you believe you have identified or witnessed a security problem. Do not go
looking for security problems, because this may be construed as an illegal
attempt to gain access.
You will not use obscene, profane, lewd,
vulgar, rude, inflammatory, threatening, or disrespectful forms of
communication online. This applies to verbal and written language, diagrams,
photographs, representations, videos, audios, or any other form of
communication.
You will not engage in personal attacks,
including prejudicial or discriminatory attacks. You will not harass another
person. Harassment is persistently acting in a manner that distresses another
person. If you are told by a person to stop sending him or her messages, you
must stop. You will not knowingly or recklessly post false or defamatory
information about a person or organization.
You will not re-post a message that was sent
to you privately without permission of the person who sent you the message. You
will not post private information about another person or organization.
You will not plagiarize works that you find
on the Internet. Plagiarism is taking ideas or writings of others and
presenting them as if they were yours.
You will respect the rights of copyright
owners. Copyright infringement occurs when you reproduce a work that is
protected by a copyright without authorization. You will not download, copy, or
distribute any work, including but not limited to text, photographs, audios,
videos, or computer software, in violation of copyright laws.
If a work contains language that specifies
appropriate use of that work, you should follow the expressed requirements. If
you are unsure whether you are allowed to use a particular work, ask a staff
member.
You will not install or modify any
software on BGCPS computer systems without staff permission. In addition, you will not remove
CD-ROMs or other computer disks from the computer center without staff
permission or copy, upload, or otherwise redistribute any software from BGCPS
systems.
You will not use the BGPS network to access
or transmit material that is sexually oriented, profane or obscene
(pornographic), that advocates illegal acts, or that advocates violence or
discrimination toward other people (hate literature). A special exception may
be made for hate literature, if the purpose of your access is to conduct
research, and both your teacher and parent or guardian approve.
When in use, the BGCPS computer center will
be monitored by a staff supervisor.
In addition, content filtering (blocking) software will be maintained on
computer center terminals. If you
mistakenly access inappropriate information, you should immediately tell the
supervisor. This will protect you
against a claim that you have intentionally violated this policy. Deliberate
violation will result in disciplinary actions including denial of network
access, as more fully described below.
Your parent or guardian should instruct you
if there is any further material that he or she thinks would be inappropriate
for you to access. In all cases,
if you find information on a web site or other network medium that offends you
or makes you feel uncomfortable, you should leave that website or medium
immediately and tell the supervisor.
The BGCPS network is considered a limited
forum, similar to the school newspaper and therefore the Club reserves the
right to regulate that forum for valid educational reasons. The Club will not,
however, restrict your speech on the basis of a disagreement with opinions you
are expressing.
The Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs
makes no representations as to the accuracy, availability, reliability, or
fitness of the Club’s information systems for any purpose. The BGCPS network is privately owned
and usage information, including addresses of web sites visited and time of
access may be logged. You should
expect only limited privacy of the contents of any personal files you may
create or store on the BGCPS system. An individual search of computer files may be
conducted if there is a reasonable suspicion that you have violated this
Policy, the Club’s behavior standards, or the law. The Boys & Girls
Club of Palm Springs will cooperate with law enforcement investigations of
illegal activities conducted using the BGCPS network.
Members who violate this Acceptable
Computer Use Policy may be denied future Internet and/or network privileges
for a defined period, or be subject to other disciplinary measures as set forth
by the Unit Director and Club staff members. Repeated violations may result in
permanent suspension from Internet access.
First Offense: Parents
notified, network privileges suspended for one week.
Second Offense: Parents
notified, network privileges suspended for one month.
Third Offense: Parents
notified, network privileges suspended for remainder of school year.
Forth+ Offense: Parents
notified, additional action, including permanent network access ban, at the
Unit Director’s discretion.