A University committee, charged with deciding whether the school should pursue providing online music to students, recommended to the administration this week that they not pursue any subscriptions at this time.
The decision was based in large part on what the committee perceived as a lack of student interest.
Their findings were based on an online survey linked to the ITC Web site and the "current students" section of the University's Web site. Four percent of students filled out the survey over a 10-day period.
The committee -- made up of nine individuals from ITC, the library, student affairs, housing and finance -- concluded there was not enough student interest to make further investigation into the matter worthwhile.
Most music providers the committee considered require a base number of subscriptions -- about 2,000 or 3,000 -- before providing a bulk rate for students.
Although almost 90 percent of students surveyed said they would have been interested in an online music provider, there were still only about 1,011 people who participated in the survey -- not enough to encourage the committee to go on.
To advertise the survey, the committee put out a half-page advertisement in The Cavalier Daily, posted a notice in the weekly Connections e-mail and asked computer assistants in first-year dorms to promote the survey.
"There wasn't much more we could have done," said Chris Husser, technology coordinator for student activities. "We did everything advertising-wise short of fliers."
Some students said it was not enough.
"They could have done fliers, maybe," fourth-year College student Laura Aimone said.
"Papers on the table in front of the dining hall, something right in front of your face," said third-year College student Cyrus Jahansouz.
Fourth-year Engineering student Robert Zhu said word-of-mouth was the most effective way of communicating on campus.
"There are too many e-mail things that go out," Zhu said. "Things just get lost."
Some first years said they had not heard about the survey from their dorm computing advisors.
"I don't even know who mine is," said first-year College student Kevin Koser, who lives in Emmett.
Some students said they would have been interested in a University-provided music subscription, but others were hesitant about the idea.
Zhu said even if he had known about it, he would not have been interested.
Jahansouz was skeptical.
"A lot of my friends are still really good at downloading music illegally -- if it's right there, why would you want to pay," he said. "Out of all my friends who download music, 90 to 95 percent are not afraid of being caught."
The committee report said its decision does not mean the issue has been decided permanently.
The committee recommended the University remain open to reconsidering the decision if there emerges "in the future, a demonstrably heightened interest and willingness from U.Va. students to subscribe to an online media service."
Read More
Virginia General Assembly demands answers about Ryan's resignation in Aug. 1 letter
By Brendon Bordwine | 11 hours agoIn a 10-page letter obtained by The Cavalier Daily, State Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, demanded written responses and documentation from University Rector Rachel Sheridan and University Vice Rector Porter Wilkinson regarding the lead up to and fallout from former University President Jim Ryan's resignation.
Weighing their place in U.Va. presidential search, students hope for leader with integrity
By Mia Tan | 2 days agoWith the search for the University’s 10th president underway, students are voicing cautious hopes for a leader who will prioritize transparency, integrity and the needs of the University community
Honor Committee discusses potential changes to its sanctioning process
By Bertie Azqueta | 3 days agoAny changes to the role of counsel could significantly affect how sanctioning is pursued by the reporter and the University community against those who committed Honor offenses.
