Debra....
Thank you for your phone call today informing me that you had found
a way to unblock the information on the ASC's Critical Criminology
Division's homepage while still serving your own commitment to
blocking the Unabomer manuscript. I appreciate your prompt attention
to our concerns, and I recognize that you have the unenviable task
of attempting to balance the safety of children with the principles of
free speech, academic freedom, and open access to information.
However, I am still left with several questions:
1) I note that your own page at:
http://www.microsys.com/cybernot/default.htm
indicates that the http://www.soci.niu.edu/~critcrim page
remains on the cybernot "banned" list. If this message is correct, it
appears that we are not unblocked. Also, we consider the inclusion of our
site on your list as damaging to the reputation of the Society, the
Division, and Northern Illinois University. Given the manner in
which Microsystems markets Cyber Patrol, there is a rather clear
implication that blocked sites violate conventional norms of
decency. We will take you at your word that you have
removed the blockage, even while noting that retaining the public
inclusion of us on your "banned" list seems to suggest otherwise.
2) Given your concerns about the Unabomer Manifesto, I am wondering
if you have applied the same standards to our site that you have to
others, specifically to nytimes.com and aol.com.
As a professional society, the Critical Criminology Division remains
committed to cooperation and compromise, especially when dealing
with complex issues. We appreciate your own apparent willingness to
act in kind. However, we are not yet assured that the resolution you
reported has in fact been enacted. I will attempt to contact you
Friday to discuss this further.
Again, thank you for your prompt attention to our concerns.
Jim Thomas, Professor / Sociology/Criminal Justice
Northern Illinois University / DeKalb, Ill (60115)
voice: (815) 753-6436 / fax: (815) 753-6302
email: jthomas@sun.soci.niu.edu