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TOP STORIES FOR MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 09, 2002 Cisco Drops Dell Company in Planning Stages of Domain for Kids AOL Addresses Security Concerns for Instant Messenger AND Online University Receives Venture Capital What to Do with Idle Computers in Arizona New Attractions to Draw Students into College Libraries CISCO DROPS DELL Dell Computer announced that Cisco Systems would end its relationship with the computer seller and that by the end of the month Dell would no longer resell Cisco products. Cisco refused to comment on the decision to sever the relationship with Dell, but observers speculated that Cisco's motives were similar to those of Hewlett-Packard, which stopped using Dell as a reseller because of rumors that Dell would begin making its own printers. Some of Dell's hardware, particularly the PowerConnect line of products, compete directly with Cisco's products. Dell said that other suppliers, including Nortel and Extreme Networks, will likely be able to meet the demand of Dell customers for newtorking gear. ZDNet, 9 September 2002 http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1106-957156.html COMPANY IN PLANNING STAGES OF DOMAIN FOR KIDS After several high-profile attempts to restrict adult content on the Internet failed in the courts, U.S. lawmakers have proposed establishing a kid-safe area under the .us domain. To that end, NeuStar Inc., the company developing such an area, has released preliminary criteria for what will be allowed in the ".kids.us" domain. The company said the domain would adhere to FCC rules that govern television and radio content, which prohibit profanity, illegal drug use, alcohol or tobacco use, and nudity, though exceptions are made for content with an educational purpose. Explicit violence is prohibited, though officials from NeuStar admitted concern about how and where to draw the line on violence. The company is soliciting suggestions on its Web site for "defining a bright-line test for determining when violent content, or any other inappropriate content, might be inappropriate for a 12-year-old." San Jose Mercury News, 9 September 2002 http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/4037261.htm AOL ADDRESSES SECURITY CONCERNS FOR INSTANT MESSENGER Despite the potential usefulness of AOL Instant Messenger technology, many organizations refuse to allow it because of concerns over its security. Officials from AOL hope that the release of a new version of the application will answer many of those complaints and will persuade many organizations to adopt the technology. The release, Enterprise AIM, gives security personnel control over Instant Messenger, including who can use it and what the messages can be about, and permits encryption of messages. Some observers noted that even as an insecure product, Instant Messenger has a strong user base, suggesting that a large, untapped demand exists for a secure version. NewsFactor Network, 9 September 2002 http://www.newsfactor.com/perl/story/19349.html AND ***************************************************** ONLINE UNIVERSITY RECEIVES VENTURE CAPITAL The American Public University System (APUS), founded in 1991 as a for-profit, private university, has landed $10 million in funding from ABS Capital Partners. APUS offers online classes in military and general education to more than 5,000 current students, many of whom are military personnel and who benefit from the school's courses being available on the Internet. A spokesperson from ABS said the firm, which has been involved in software, media, and health care ventures, had been looking for an opportunity to enter the education arena. With the nation's current focus on security, ABS was attracted by APUS's offerings in intelligence studies and homeland security. Washington Post, 9 September 2002 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54711-2002Sep8.html WHAT TO DO WITH IDLE COMPUTERS IN ARIZONA Last month the Arizona State Legislature closed Arizona Learning Systems, a distance-education program set up in 1996 to allow community colleges to offer courses online. Now the lawmakers are trying to decide what to do with computer equipment purchased for the program. Community colleges in the state want the computers, but the equipment may be sold to other state agencies because lawmakers said the colleges did not put the computers to good use. The state provided $3.8 million for the program, which enrolled only 118 students in the year and a half it was in operation. Officials from Arizona Learning Systems were asked earlier this year to propose a plan to boost enrollment, but plans they considered would have required significant new investment. The colleges have until October 21 to submit proposals for how they would use and pay for the equipment. Chronicle of Higher Education, 9 September 2002 http://chronicle.com/free/2002/09/2002090903t.htm NEW ATTRACTIONS TO DRAW STUDENTS INTO COLLEGE LIBRARIES Many college and university librarians have modified long-standing policies and upgraded facilities in an attempt to lure students into libraries, away from Internet-connected dorm rooms. After years of prohibiting food and drinks, the University of North Texas library now has a Starbucks in a common area. Food and drinks are now allowed in almost all of the library. The University of Richmond added more comfortable chairs and computer workstations to its library and saw an 18 percent increase in the number of students visiting the library. Samuel Demas of Carleton College in Minnesota said his institution has implemented art exhibits and literary events to draw students into the library. He said the events recalled a time when the library was the academic and social center of the campus. Associated Press, 9 September 2002 (registration req'd) http://www.nandotimes.com/technology/story/529233p-4191803c.html ***************************************************** EDUPAGE INFORMATION To subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your settings, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html Or, you can subscribe or unsubscribe by sending e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To SUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SUBSCRIBE Edupage YourFirstName YourLastName To UNSUBSCRIBE, in the body of the message type: SIGNOFF Edupage If you have subscription problems, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For past issues of Edupage or information about translations of Edupage into other languages, visit http://www.educause.edu/pub/edupage/edupage.html ***************************************************** OTHER EDUCAUSE PUBLICATIONS EDUCAUSE publishes periodicals, including "EDUCAUSE Quarterly" and "EDUCAUSE Review," books, and other materials dealing with the impacts and implications of information technology in higher education. 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