Piya's Perspective

Penn State has a deal with Napster that some students aren’t happy about.  Fees that students are required to pay, and have no control over, are being used to allow access to Napster’s music subscription service. 

On the one hand, students are being forced to support this whether or not they will actually use the service.  However, at the same time, there are plenty of other fees students pay that they don’t directly use via programs offered by the university.  What about the students who have their own computers and never go down to the computer labs?  Maybe they feel the opposite – that they’d use napster and don’t see a need for new lab machines.

When I first read the article I was in agreement with those students upset about the Napster deal.  However, the more I think about it, the more I’m not quite sure which side I agree with.  It would be nice to allow students to choose exactly what they want their money to go to, but that may be too much to ask.  And universities are expected to provide different services to students, whether or not some students don’t actually use them such as counselors, job services, registered student organizations.