PROVISION OF INTERNET FOR STUDENTS: A RIGHT OR A PRIVILEGE?

Sadiq Tajudeen

Definitely a right!

“We are committed to providing fast, reliable and robust internet services to students. The University is opening up internet access to students on campus (to a capped volume per student per semester/session). As such, there is an on-going investment on additional network infrastructure/ bandwidth. The bandwidth is projected to be increased in the first instance from the present 475 to 775 Mbps. It is worth mentioning that the bandwidth increase will be dedicated to the new student network. The bandwidth cost will grow from N64M to about N100M. This is excluding other required network infrastructural upgrade. I do hope this clarification helps in providing justification for the Technology Fee”.

Dear readers, this was the response given by the Vice Chancellor, Professor Idowu Olayinka, on the 4th of May, 2019, about the payment of six thousand five hundred Naira (#6,500) by each student. If this is indeed the purpose of the compulsory technology fee, why should the collectors, after being paid with no objection, now pronounce that the service paid for is not a right but a privilege?

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines ‘right’ as “something to which one has a just claim: such as; the power or privilege to which one is justly entitled.” From this definition one can decide what to do to an ‘entitlement’. The conditions given have made it look as though the students didn’t pay for it. Does this mean this “privilege”, which is paid for, could be withdrawn back at anytime because it is done out of generosity?

The conditions attached to the access of network by the school can be interpreted this way: One as a network user paid a thousand Naira (#1,000) to one’s favourite service provider— MTN, GLO, AIRTEL or 9MOBILE— to provide data for one, they then stipulate what could be done and could not be done with it after providing the data. First, one has paid for it, one should not be given conditions on what to do with it. Whatever one does with it does not concern them. Theirs is to provide and ours is to use as other service providers provide after paying, and we, the masses use and enjoy service. To monitor the usage of the Wi-Fi is a violation of our right and the students should reject it.

Our Big Brother management should have made given these conditions before we paid and made the payment optional and not compulsory. So, students would consider the conditions and proceed to make payments if they are comfortable with them.

When one buys data one can choose to share it with whoever one wants, and when it is exhausted, that’s all but the school is giving restrictions and non-optional terms and conditions on what they paid for by saying one cannot share at all.  Instead of threatening students and restricting them from their right, the school should give them the amount of what they will use according to the money they paid.

In addition, what is the importance of the internet service if it cannot be used for other things deemed fit by students who are independent minds, apart from academic purpose. If the management does not take seriously the saying that “all work and all play makes Jack a dull boy” they should know that learning is beyond academics.  I’m neither advocating for the misuse nor the abuse of the service being provided. Likewise neither am I advocating for the promotion of internet fraud nor cybercrime. However, one should get full enjoyment for what one pays for.

More of a Privilege!

Tobi Odeyinka

As published on the school website, “The University understands and believes that the benefits of the rich, digital resources available through the World Wide Web outweigh any disadvantage. However, access granted by the University is not a right but a privilege, which carries with it great responsibilities. Misuse or abuse will be interpreted very broadly to mean any violation of this agreement or any other use that is not included in the agreement but has the effect of harming the University and/or any other legitimate User.

“The use of this access account is governed among others by the following:

• You should not share your account with a third party for whatever reason or represent yourself as being someone else.

• You may use your account for incidental personal purposes, provided that the use does not interfere with others’ use of the services, interfere with the work of other Students or University employees – including yourself – or incur costs to the University. However, you should note that as deemed necessary, the University might monitor your transactions for protective and integrity reasons.

• You may not transfer this account to any other, as it is tied to your studentship in the University and on graduation or change of institution ceases to be yours.”

The above has generated displeasure from many quarters of the students’ community but I do not see a reason for such negative reaction. A privilege, as explained by the Cambridge Dictionary is “an immunity granted as a peculiar benefit. The students’ community should at least for ones appreciate the magnanimity of the school management to extend to them this rare gesture of kindness. This is definitely one of the justification to the appellation, “First and Best” and the management deserves applause. Whether or not they have paid for this service does not nullify the fact that this is a rare benefit in the Nigerian tertiary education system.

The conditions stated above, which seem to be the reason for the displeasure, are actually not baseless neither are they insulting in any way. Students tend to abuse privileges, especially when they know there are no consequences. The conditions would check irrelevant usage of the internet service as it is meant for academic purposes only. For instance, why should any student share his or her details with another student when the service is not in any way discriminately, instead it is available to all students. Also, fore-warning the student against misuse is a welcome development, so that we do not cry foul when abusers are harmed. While we want the best of the management, we should not expect them to go bankrupt by being prodigal and/or reckless in the way we use the services provided for us.

Using the toilets and bathtub is a right and we can see what have become of such right; our loos and tubs are rotten, no thanks to the unbothered users.

Even fundamental rights like right to life and right to freedom of expression, have conditions to their exercise; freedom of expression is not a license to commit libel or slander. However, this is a privilege; one of the many benefits of being a student of the premier university. We should be grateful at least.

Enjoy the Wi-Fi, but be responsible with it.