Inside Higher Ed on Skype

Here's the article from Inside Higher Ed magazine by Elizabeth Redden. Also, related to VOIP's, check out Google's mad rush to keep up with AIM and Skype. Run boys, run.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet ,Google , Inside Higher Ed

More Publicity on Skype Story May Consequences

SJSU may have reversed its proposed ban on Skype, but the story is still being kicked around on online publications, newspapers, and blogs.

Inside Higher Ed reporter Elizabeth Redden just interviewed Steve Sloan and me for an article to appear tomorrow on the D.C. based site, the Spartan Daily just ran a story on Phil Wolff's visit on Tuesday, and I've gotten emails today from several people saying, "you're welcome" for the thank you post I ran yesterday.

Anyways, this has reminded me of what Phil Wolff talked about during the lecture. He said that while a policy decision may have gotten changed now, future employers would surely be watching and reading with the question, "do I want to hire that sort of person," in mind.

I must admit, it has caused me to give some pause when writing my posts, unlike some bloggers' that have been rather sharp with their language referring to the University.

While I hope that employers would want inquisitive employees that are concerned about what's going on, I am certain many others don't want employees that challenge them in their decision-making. Cluetrain be damned.

It's some food for thought.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype , Phil Wolff , Steve Sloan

Thank you!

In case I hadn't already talked to you in person (so for all the news-junkies that helped us in cyberspace), thank you for emailing/calling/generally chatting up a storm to get SJSU's proposed Skype ban reversed.

It shows what dedicated people can do working together. Kudos^ (n~>X, where X=all the summation of all positive integers).

In other words, go geeks!

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype ,

Phil Wolff at SJSU - talks on Skype Ban

Here's the podcast from Phil Wolff's guest lecture in JMC 163 tonight. There were technical difficulties with Steve Sloan's computer, so the Skypecast fell through. Video clips from the lecture will be available soon.

Wolff talked about everything from how Skype actually works to how blogging is affecting society. Good chat.

Oh, and here's my first post on the Spartan Daily Blog. It would have been up sooner, but class didn't get out till nine. That's smarts!

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype Journal , Phil Wolff , Steve Sloan

Big Win for SJSU Students in Skype Battle

Today is a reminder that student activism and concern from teachers can yield amazing results.


It looks like Skype is going to be allowed on the SJSU campus. Steve Sloan just broke the story an hour ago (it hasn't gotten on technorati yet) in a post on his website.

While Steve doesn't give any details about the deal apparently made between the University and Ebay (they were having a meeting today to discuss the future of Skype at SJSU), he writes:

The very short version, they are NOT going to be pulling the plug on Skype at San Jose State University. Stay tuned for more!

It's a good day for students and educators alike. Go Steve.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype , Steve Sloan

Skype Meeting Today

Phil Wolff of Skype journal will be here at SJSU today in DBH 226 at 5:00 pm. If you can't make it, tune into the Skypecast and make some noise. All are welcomed to attend.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype Journal , Phil Wolff

Posting on Skype from "Down Under"

SJSU photojournalism and international student, Jason Fithian, posted this article on the proposed ban of Skype today from Brisbane, Australia.


In the letter he sent to Bob Neal, Jason wrote:

As an exchange student abroad, I rely heavily on Skype daily. Skype is my main source of contact with my friends and family back home, along with colleagues at San José State University.

As I have taken the plunge and made myself vulnerable to gain another perspective of the world, I do have a greater global awareness. I understand the importance of communicating with others outside the United States; Skype makes that possible.

It just goes to show you how connecting Web 2.0 technologies can be, and how foolish it would be to deny such valuable services to students.

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype , Jason Fithian

Where's Campus Leadership?

The proposed ban on Skype has brought to my attention the lack of Associated Student involvement on this issue.

As stated before, the banning of Skype without student input is as much a student's rights issue as any other. So why hasn't the Associated Students Board of Directors come out in protest?

Here's another concern. How are Government officals supposed to know what the fears and concerns of students are when they, themselves, do not even have updated information on the student government.


Whole segments of the AS government website haven't been updated since the 2003-2004 school year.

And this is Silicon Valley?!

This seems especially critical considering a large portion of the student base doesn't live on campus. A means of communication with AS, outside of attending board meetings, must be established so the Government can act on student needs and concerns.


Why not create a Digg style "Question Box" site for the Associated Students? That way officers can't use the excuse that they don't know about issues like the banning of Skype (although this story is hard to miss).

The AS Government writes in its mission statement:

Our mission is to represent the students of San José State University and continually improve the quality of their educational opportunities and experiences.

The use of Skype and such emerging technologies would clearly further this end, yet I haven't seen and heard anything from AS in support of the students and teachers protesting the University's move.

Where is AS?

Andrew Venegas , San Jose , SJSU , Soapbox Prophet , Skype , Associated Students

And the Hits just Keep on Coming

When a story has legs, it runs.

Looks like more than just the Silicon Valley crowd, the newspaper crowd, the Malaysian crowd, and God know who else is following the Skype ban story - Robert Scoble just blogged it.

Go Robert; here's to fighting the man. ;)

Andrew Venegas
San Jose
SJSU
Soapbox Prophet
Skype
Robert Scoble

Guess who's watching...

Interesting night last night.; talk about convergence technologies.

Right before getting into bed, my phone rang. Nothing out of the ordinary (late night calls from friends in college are about as rare as HP improprieties).

What was so interesting about the caller, Jan Geirnaert, aside from his very unique perspective and credentials, is that he is lives in Malaysia and has ties to the Mercury News reporter, Elise Ackerman (the very same reporter that wrote Thursday's article).


Check out the piece he did on one of his websites here. He's got a whole bunch of good insights, and he raises some interesting questions too.

Frankly, this is the exact type of experience that the University should be encouraging, not discouraging through restrictive policies such as the Skype ban.

Thomas Friedman, eat your heart out.

(Image taken from Wikipedia article: "The World is Flat".)

Andrew Venegas
San Jose
SJSU
Soapbox Prophet
Skype
Elise Ackerman
Jan Geirnaert

When the Story is a Story

It was brought to my attention today by Steve Sloan that the Skype ban story is a story in and of itself.


The mere fact that it has been driven largely by students and teachers blogging online is a first for Silicon Valley.

I am unaware of another policy in San Jose's history that has been challenged and received such link-love on technorati as the proposed Skype ban.

Hmmm.

Andrew Venegas
San Jose
SJSU
Soapbox Prophet
Skype
Steve Sloan

Mercury News Writes on Skype Ban

Aside from getting this blog URL wrong (meh), Mercury News reporter Elise Ackerman did a great job writing an article for yesterday's Merc.


A big thank you to Elise from this corner of the blogosphere.

In other news, Skype has decided to have an online forum/conference call on this issue, to be hosted by Phil Wolff Tuesday at 5:00 pm in Dwight Bental Hall, Room 226. Anyone is invited to join, in person or online through Skype.

I would like to personally invite as many students as possible; since this is a student's rights issue just as much as a security/legal one. Make your voice heard and represent.

Finally, if you are "ify" about going because you really don't know much abpit how Skype works or what is going on, Steve Sloan has lots of info linked in one easy to navigate place.

Check it out and I hope to see you on Tuesday!

Andrew Venegas
San Jose
SJSU
Soapbox Prophet
Skype
Elise Ackerman
Steve Sloan

Skype oh Skype, Where for Art Thou?

The story keeps getting better and better. Phil Wolff of Skype Journal blogged about me today (how's that for circular story-telling), which is getting this site more traffic than it has ever seen.



Kudos to Skype Journal. The more people that pick up on this story, the more pressure we can put on the administration to at least have a conversation with the students before taking away such a valuable resource as Skype.

Andrew Venegas
San Jose
SJSU
Soapbox Prophet
Skype Journal
Phil Wolff

San Jose Mercury takes Interest in Proposed Skype Ban at SJSU

Elise Ackerman, an online reporter for the San Jose Mercury News, called me today for a piece she is doing on the proposed Skype ban at SJSU by the University.


Ackerman asked me if I knew any international students that use Skype that would be willing to speak with her, and since I don't personally know any, I thought I'd post here and see if any of you are or know of any.

If you do, her email address is eackerman@mercurynews.com.

Ask around too. The more publicity this story has, the harder it will be for the school to shut Skype down without addressing the students.

Andrew Venegas
San Jose
SJSU
Soapbox Prophet
Skype
Elise Ackerman