Lefties have no shame and nothing to hide, what's the problem?

It's just another indoctrination move. Get the masses accustomed to being frisked to go in to a building, stadium and airport, get them accustomed to being monitored all the time and you will have control over everything they do and say.

What's the problem.

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Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

Originally posted by jhe888:
This is an entirely private university. I don't care what they and their students agree to do.

That is entirely the correct response. Private institutions, such as schools, churches, country clubs (and businesses, though I understand the issues with inviting the public) should have whatever policies they want, as long as they are not illegal.

As an alumnus, I do care. I think it's ridiculous. But my remedy is with the board and the administration, not with the courts.

BTW, Saint Louis University, and Saint Louis University High school are celebrating their bi-centennial this year. Founded in 1818, it's the oldest school west of the Mississippi river.

Interesting. That may well be true, but if my recollection is correct, Academy of the Sacred Heart in Saint Charles was also founded in 1818.

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Academy of the Sacred Heart in Saint Charles was also founded in 1818.

Yes, it was. Founded in 1818 by St. Philippine Duchesne, the Academy was the first of many Sacred Heart schools established in the United States.

It amuses me to no end that many young people, and a good number of older people have such blind faith in high tech when it touches on privacy and aspects of surveillance. "Oh, companies and agencies will never spy on me, that is illegal, it's not right!" Or "just because they have the technology doesn't mean rhey will spy on us or sell our data!". Like I said, amusing.

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If a student wants to opt out of using the Echo Dot given to them, they can simply store it, unplugged, and turn it in at the end of the school year

The most useful line in the article; even in the private entity setting, it’s not a requirement. I’d be interested in the percentage that opt out.

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Originally posted by V-Tail:
Who pays for this stuff? Where does the money come from?

The Clinton Foundation, channeled through Fusion GPS?

quote:

Originally posted by gearhounds:

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If a student wants to opt out of using the Echo Dot given to them, they can simply store it, unplugged, and turn it in at the end of the school year

The most useful line in the article; even in the private entity setting, it’s not a requirement. I’d be interested in the percentage that opt out.

Probably not as many as you think. The next generation does not value privacy like we do, they embrace the technology and the convenience it provides.

The technologies being implemented are greatly improving customer service by helping students navigate the cumbersome and inflated government business processes. There is very good data showing how the problems with admissions, registrations, and financial aid have been greatly reduced.

Unplugging it works, unless you have a room mate that won't unplug their unit, then it's still listening.

Since the device works on listening to key prompts it's always on listening and recording, even though Amazon says it's innocuous enough that key words are needed to obtain a reaction, it still hears everything said.

If that bothers you, unplug it, if SLU wants to install them, have at it. I can't see where it's a deal maker on a student choosing SLU or MIZZOU...
Unless students can use it to help Amazon increase data points on the marketability of the students, whats the gain. Amazon isn't doing this without a plan, Bezo's and company doesn't take a dump without a plan...


My guess is that the university is responding to ideas that might increase enrollment at SLU and amazon has got them to bite on what they see as an inroad to obtaining more data and sales opportunities marketing to digital loving youth.

I already know the response from the majority of students and staff. “If you’re not doing anything wrong then you’ve got nothing to worry about.”

What will be even funnier is that guy that walks into every room asking Alexa for the best midget porn recommendations.

It will be invaluable to the school that creates Alexa skills to answer the "top 50" questions students need to ask the college/university.

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What will be even funnier is that guy that walks into every room asking Alexa for the best midget porn recommendations.

And of course stuff like that will happen. 19 year old boys have active imaginations and more than enough tech skills to stay a step ahead of the administration. I think this experiment will cause more headaches for the administration than they can imagine. It will be pretty funny, but I'm sure we won't hear about that.

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Originally posted by RichardC:

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Who pays for this stuff? Where does the money come from?

The Clinton Foundation, channeled through Fusion GPS?

Nah, your tax dollars in support of all the defaulted student loans.

Could be amusing if utilized properly.

quote:

Originally posted by V-Tail:
Who pays for this stuff? Where does the money come from? How 'bout NOT doing crap like this and controlling tuition costs, instead.

No doubt part of a deal worked out with Amazon. My school has an Amazon "store" and all the students get free Prime, free one day shipping to same. (we have more than 10 times the students as the school listed)

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Originally posted by kz1000:
I'd unplug it & lock it in a closet.

Good morning Dave. I wouldn't do that if I were you Dave.

Privately funded, opt-out, unplug, no personal data yadda yadda...

Umm, they are conditioning these already brainwashed kids to living with listening devices, and don't tell me that having a cell phone is the same thing. It is possible to monitor people through their phones, but the raison d'etre of Alexis and Cube or whatever the fuck these bugs are called is listening to you 24 hours a day.
They are normalizing this. It's Orwellian. It's insanity.

So, debate the place of this if the institution is privately funded, and that students can opt-out and are assured that no personal data will be "collected", but in my opinion, no one should look at this and yawn.

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Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

I really don’t like the fact that this program is mandatory.

It's not.

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If a student wants to opt out of using the Echo Dot given to them, they can simply store it, unplugged, and turn it in at the end of the school year.

If it were me, I would simply turn it in at the beginning of the school year.... and say, "Nope, YOU store the damn thing!"

I wonder how many students it would take doing that to truly raise a stink about it? Enough of a stink that perhaps they reconsider deploying these little spies.

The very question is vile and warrants nothing but derision and ridicule, private institution or not. Sure, they're free to do it, and we're free to call it what it is - invasive insanity that will no doubt gain dangerous traction via young and naive kids who don't know better.

Pity, DEFCON 26 just finished in Las Vegas. Biggest collection of hackers that I know of. Oh well, there’s always next year.