Caught with Porn

so_stupid

Hey im a third year student in an Institute of Technology college somewhere in the country. Just recently a load of people were caught for looking up porn including me except it was my second time getting caught. Just this morning i got a letter home to my parents who were not the happiest and it says something like second time getting caught.

It says that i will be up in front of a disiplinary commitee and i can have legal representation if i wish and i have to reply to the charges within 10 days and my internet access is gone in the mean time. truth is im worried im going to get thrown out over it which would seem a bit of a waste after spending nearly three years in the place with a year to go for my degree. Parents are upset too because i was a little trouble maker in school always suspended but i managed to make it to college and once i got here i just completly quietened down and have passed all years sucessfully. Does anyone know anything about this? Will i actually get thrown out or will i be given another chance? Please let me know,

R.

aidan_walsh

If this is your first offense, I find it very unlikely that you would be thrown out. Not exactly sure what else can be imposed, short of a fine.

uberwolf

firstly they have no right to communcate that to your parents. I'd sue for libel or something. Its a private matter between you and the college. this should also shut them up with their case against you. There has been a thread about this around a month ago.

joePC

firstly they have no right to communcate that to your parents. I'd sue for libel or something. Its a private matter between you and the college. this should also shut them up with their case against you.

This is very true, nothing to do with anyone except you,

1. You wont get kick out --> the government / EU hasn't paid for three years in college and gona throw you out.

As a side note, whats the big fcukin deal a bit of porn jesus its not 1950..............

Thanks joePC

azezil

Someone from your student union will probably be asked to represent you, if you passed all your exams so far and you can prove you're putting in work you'll probably be ok, you may loose internet access for a while or something.

That's how it worked in the college i attended at any rate.

However i'm of the opinion if you were already caught and warned you deserve to be kicked out.

dudara

I'm of the opinion that throwing you out would be far too severe. Also, you're an adult now, they should have communicated with you and not your parents.

Though all universities etc have a computer usage policy these days and to be caught violating it is just plain stupid.

Peace

Originally posted by joePC
As a side note, whats the big fcukin deal a bit of porn jesus its not 1950..............

Thanks joePC

Porn is fine if you're a person at home...you're taking responsibility for your own actions.

When within and organisation or and institution then they are responsible for what is on their computers so they have every right to police how their computers are being used.

so_stupid - your name sums it up. Especially as its your second time....i take it your only sorry because you got caught.

Anyway, the only way to find out whats going to happen is to let it happen. Considering its your second offence i would prepare for some disciplinary action... and the boot wouldn't exactly surprise me.

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

Boston

Merc to sides to every story. Last year about a dozen people where fire from the revenue comminioneers for pornography. Not just pocessing it but distributing it around the work palce via emails. Those 17 may have been removed as a result of distributing porn.

sceptre

Originally posted by dudara
Also, you're an adult now, they should have communicated with you and not your parents.

This much is certainly true.

zAbbo

Depends who paid your fees, was it mammy and daddy?

Also the letter could have been sent to your parents address with your name on it, which any nosy parent will obviuosly steam open, reseal with sellotape then give you a bollocking(just me then)

You certainly deserve any and all punishment you get

a) what kinda retard looks at porn at work/college

and

b) gets caught

c) twice

I hope Throw the book at you

Victor

Originally posted by uberwolf
firstly they have no right to communcate that to your parents.

There are quite a few students out there that are under 18.

BTW, are you sure it's a legit letter and not the lads pulling your leg?

Stephen

some of the colleges now send stuff like this home on a postcard, addressed to the student concerned but easy for parents to read

BrianD3

Those damn regional colleges/institutes of technology are like a continuation of secondary school. Students kicked out for looking at porn, letters home to parents if you miss a lecture, attendance sheets in lectures, compulsory tutorials, lecturers asking students "why weren't you at that lecture the other day" Bah! I know plenty of people who attended these colleges and they regret not attending a university. Who the hell wants to go to third level and be treated like a little schoolkid.

I went to uni and looked at porn most days for 4 years. I never heard of anyone being disciplined for porn. The place had an acceptable use policy and monitoring of internet use but it was never enforced. The only way anyone would get in trouble for porn was if one of the admins was walking by the computer you were using and there was porn blatantly up on the screen - but you'd need to be pretty dumb to let that happen.

BrianD3

zAbbo

Originally posted by BrianD3
The only way anyone would get in trouble for porn was if one of the admins was walking by the computer you were using and there was porn blatantly up on the screen - but you'd need to be pretty dumb to let that happen.

Originally posted by so_stupid
Just recently a load of people were caught for looking up porn including me except it was my second time getting caught.

Indeed

Boston

Originally posted by Victor
There are quite a few students out there that are under 18.

who have been in college for three years already?

seamus

I'd agree with Victor on the pulling your leg point.

This is the kind of thing that a college would almost certainly send addressed to you and not your parents, and would come complete with college stamp, "Private & Confidential" on the envelope, an authentic signature, and a telephone number and office for you to contact. The fact that it mentions legal representation, but was sent to your parents, would almost certainly legally destroy the college's case. This would be the main reason that I'd believe it's a hoax.

My brother went on the J1 and 6 of them got accomodation in a two-bedroom flat, sleeping on mattresses on the floor. At the end of 3 months, the landlady wanted €1500 each from them. So they had none of it, paid her €3000 between them and ran (A very generous payment IMO). For months afterwards, he was receiving extremely official-looking letters, properly addressed from a lawyer's in New York, until one day, a letter arrived, written completely in wingdings. A quick deciphering revealed one of his mates was taking the piss. It's funny now, but my brother wasn't laughing at the time. Him and my Dad were very close to arranging a legal case.

Red Alert

Wingdings! You've just put so many ideas into my head now!

To the thread starter, I'd say it's more or less a hoax - if they went anywhere near your parents they'd be in a legal minefield. More than likely it was one of your mates

While we're talkin' about it, are the IT's really that into attendance sheets etc. They sometimes do them in UCD but nobody ever hears any more about them and i've never seen anyone asked for a reason for absence?

Stephen

They do use attendance sheets and the like in Carlow IT - there's only 17 in my class so it doesn't take very long- but it depends on the lecturer. Some of them don't care, some of them like to fúck absentees in the ass when it comes to exam time

They never ask for a reason for absence. They only seem to send letters home about attendance when the student in case is receiving a grant.

BuffyBot

Students kicked out for looking at porn

Awww...so it should be, especially (if this case turns out to be true) the person involved has been caught a second time, especially having been warned.

Iron Petes

Once the porn isn't too offensive (Porn is subjective, I know). You could always pull the I'm "disfunctionally stressed" card or "I've got a gambling/drinking/communication problem". If your academic track record is good then the provost has no reason to not believe you. Of course don't do it again!!

dudara

As far as I know, some colleges require attendance sheets in order for you to collect your grant.

I wouldn't be too sure that it's a hoax. Parents are contacted sometimes here in UCC if someone is not attending lectures or failing consistently to turn in assignments, but that would only be as a last resort, and ater giving multiple warnings to the student in question.

Wolff

At least you werent caught w*nking

Dr Pepper

What winking? What has that got to do with this??

Beruthiel

keep it on topic ladies
B

SprostonGreen

There were a few porn mags found in the toilets of where I work. I dont get why you'd want to bring them in, and then leave them behind. That said some total freaks work there.

Original poster, expect the worst as its your second offence, but I hope it works out for you. And when you start in a workplace do not under any circumstance browse any porn sites.

so_stupid

Ok well im 21, it is definately not a hoax because my internet already is gone, i got the offical letter this morning sent down to my digs in college. It problady was sent to me by registered post but my parents would have openened it to ring me and tell me whats on it and i got various emails about it so it is definately not a hoax.

Is there not a sort of set punishment for this sort of thing throughout all the IT college's in the country. I mean they would hardly deny me a third level education over a bit of porn would they? Would they actually throw me out and onto the dole after showing such an eagerness to get on? Also my parents are kind of well off so for me to get thrown out of colelge would not go down well in the kind of area i live in at home.

Any answers?

Sundy

in my opinion you should be kicked out, nothing pisses me off more than waiting for a computer in a lab when theres some idiots looking at porn and the rest playing games.
You should have stuck to channel 5 and FHM!

Sleepy

Originally posted by Sundy
in my opinion you should be kicked out, nothing pisses me off more than waiting for a computer in a lab when theres some idiots looking at porn and the rest playing games.
You should have stuck to channel 5 and FHM!

Yes because spending your time on boards is so much more productive:rolleyes: Get off your high horse.

Yes, so_stupid, they could kick you out and you'd hardly be able to complain given that this is a second offence. I hope they don't because it'd have been a bloody waste of my taxes for you to go leech the dole system after getting 3 years of education paid for by the state. The only way out of this is for you to grovel like you've never begged before.

And for the love of Jeff, don't try the "it was only a bit of porn" line in your hearing in the college. Yes, to me, you and most of the boards.ie populace it was only a bit of porn. But we tend to represent the more liberally minded end of the spectrum. College beauracrats down live this far left. Trust me, they're my clients, I deal with these people every day.

hedgetrimmer

They wouldn't see as "denying you a third level education", as you would be free to go to another college, etc, even as a mature student, so they would be fully within their rights, and within the rules of NUI, for dismissing you for this conduct.

Hope it works out ok for you

BuffyBot

Is there not a sort of set punishment for this sort of thing throughout all the IT college's in the country. I mean they would hardly deny me a third level education over a bit of porn would they? Would they actually throw me out and onto the dole after showing such an eagerness to get on? Also my parents are kind of well off so for me to get thrown out of colelge would not go down well in the kind of area i live in at home.

Well it's certainly happened in workplaces that I know of and I can't see why it wouldn't happen in a third level institute. So imagine you did this in the workplace (the real world) - you could end up without a job.

You are 21. You've broken the rules. Twice. All I can say is that it's probably time you face up to the fact that you've been very stupid, and hope for the best.

Delphi91

Originally posted by so_stupid
...Just recently a load of people were caught for looking up porn including me except it was my second time getting caught....

To get caught once is careless, but twice??????

Jeez, wouldn't you think you'd have learned your lesson the first time!!!!!

Check your Institution's Acceptable Use policy - that'll give you an idea of what they can do to you.

To be honest, I don't have much sympathy for you.

Mike

milltown

A wise man once said:

"The man who never made a mistake never made anything"

Whereas I always say:

"The man who makes the same mistake twice, risking his future in college, having been warned before, is seriously hard of thinking and probably a waste of a college education in the first place"

You deserve to spend your working life offering to supersize things.
My €0.02

The Brigadier

Originally posted by Victor
There are quite a few students out there that are under 18.

Not after 3 years..

telecinesk

You should by now have aquired the knowledge to find some real porn in the form of human kind not on a monitor.

#Hard# luck with getting caught, thats bad man...

Sundy

Originally posted by Sleepy
Yes because spending your time on boards is so much more productive:rolleyes: Get off your high horse.

Who said i was lookin at boards in collage im at home actually. its easy to see you have never had the experience of needing to use a computer in a hurry in bolton street!
I have no problem wit porn either:D but their is a time and a place

MagicBusDriver

There is a big crack down now on in DIT over porn. They are worried about legal issues such as another student claiming sexual harrassment. Read the acceptable usage policy. Does it prohibitive regular porn, or only child porn.

Consider legal representation, they may back down a bit if they see you are not a walkover.

Good luck.

ps People saying they should throw the book at you are misguided. If they ban Porn they should also ban all leisure sites. If you find porn offensive, deal with without annoying other people about it.

Also if they kick you out, go to UCD, they dont give a f**k about porn there.

MrPinK

Originally posted by MagicBusDriver
Read the acceptable usage policy. Does it prohibitive regular porn, or only child porn.

Do you really think a college would have a AUP banning only certain kinds of porn? And seeing that child porn is already illegal there's no need to ban it in the AUP

Consider legal representation, they may back down a bit if they see you are not a walkover

There's no reason for them to back down because there's nothing a lawyer can do for you here. Best appear apologetic rather than confrontational.

ps People saying they should throw the book at you are misguided. If they ban Porn they should also ban all leisure sites. If you find porn offensive, deal with without annoying other people about it.

Like you said yourself, it can lead to sexual harrassment claims. Other leisure sites don't. But this is beside the point, whether you argee with the AUP or not is irrelavant. If you want to use their computers you have to follow it.

Draupnir

Hey pinky, piss off to Boston

Unexpected

Harsh buddy. But you shouldnt have looked at it in the first place. I wouldn't throw you out. I would just state that you only have one year left and work around it. I do not know. But it is not the worst thing in the world. I would get legal advice though.

Beruthiel

Originally posted by Draupnir
Hey pinky, piss off to Boston

draupnir
please don't post here if you have nothing to add to the topic
B

Unshelved

All your talk about how wealthy your family are and what the neighbours will think makes you sound like an arrogant asshole - guaranteed to piss college authorities off. You'd better change that stance when you're talking to them. Grovel - apologise again and again. On no account make any excuses for yourself - tell them that you know how stupid you've been and how sorry you are. Cry if you have to - I'm serious here.

Approach the Student Union for advice - they've seen this before and will be able help you in the best approach to take. Again, when you're talking to them, take responsibility for your actions - nobody cares what year you're in or who your parents are - you did wrong and were caught redhanded - twice.

Get legal advice - sometimes it's more trouble than it's worth to expel a student - especially if it looks like this student is no pushover.

Speaking as someone who has worked in a number of colleges, realistically you can expect no mercy on this one. Wasting computer time surfing the web for porn while others are waiting to type out their essay is guaranteed to drive your fellow students mad - and they take that out on supervisory staff, who will take great pleasure in taking it out on you in turn. Also colleges have come under increasing pressure from students complaining that exposure to porn on the computer beside theirs is unacceptable behaviour, and there have been rumblings of prosecutions of the colleges under the Equality Act.

Sleepy

Don't go down the legal road unless you're kicked out. Apologetic will go down a lot better than confrontational. Seek advice from the Students Union, they should be at least able to send someone to the hearing with you. As I and a few others have already said: grovel like you've never done before.

By all means mention that you've only a year to go and state that you think it's perfectly fair for them to block your PC access. Admitting your mistakes and accepting a reasonable punishment is likely to go down well with the board. If you willingly suggest this as fair punishment they're likely to just impose that as it's a non-confrontational solution which, in general, people will try to go for.

Under no circumstances mention anything about your father's earning levels, what the neighbours would think etc. That'll just get people's backs up.

Emmo

Listen mate I posted this before in the other thread,

You need the big head not the little one.

Go to the chaplen and say your confused about your sexuality, say you have had a "hard" time coming to terms with living away from home and being attracted to men aswell as Women.

Say you have studied hard and passed but this issue really confused you. Recognise that it is an ongoing issue and that its not acceptable and would he mind talking it over with you.

Then explain this to the commitee and say you are very sorry, you relaise that it wasnt acceptable and explain that you have had issues with your sexuality and you realise that this is entirely unacceptable but that you had a lot of trouble dealing with the things happening to you.

Explain that you are currently seeking help and that this will never happen again. Point out that this is your only indiscretion and that you would be entirely greatful if they dont lose hope with you as you are commited to chaging this behaviorial pattern.

AND DONT LOOK IT UP AGAIN!

Emmo

Terminator

Best bet is to liaise with the students union / counsellors. Apologise unconditionally and say you will do whatever it takes to remain in college.

Hope it works out for you.

zAbbo

sigh

Rename this thread to: How can I lie to get off

You deserve to be banned from college, end of

Divine

lol Emmo well thatnks for trying to help but there is no way i would stand up in front of out board and say i was gay, especially with the fact that i am problady going to bring my parents with me.

Any other ideas?

embraer170

Only in Ireland, only in Ireland!

AngelofFire

Whats the big deal ok he looked at porn so what. im taking him at face value and assuming it was legal and it involved consenting adults. its no reason to get thrown out of college. ok i agree that the college should discourage that type of thing, but they shouldnt get alarmed about it.

Verdammt

Down with this sort of thing !!

Only joking .

I have no problem with porn, once its viewed in the privicey of your own home and its between adults.

Unexpected

Ok this guy looked at porn. But surely its the colleges fault for not blocking it and setting it up accordingly?

I can't look at porn in my college. It just will not let me.