IMUA
‘IOLANI
Sullivan Center Pages 8-10
A Voice for Students since 1923
September 23, 2013 Honolulu, Hawaii Volume 90, Issue 1
Who’s
watching you? Digital privacy at ‘Iolani
By Matthew Beattie-Callahan
The expansion of the ‘Iolani iPad 1:1 initiative to the entire student body has caused major changes in the way students learn and complete their schoolwork. But the iPads aren’t being used just for school work. The wireless tablets are increasingly used by students for games, instant messaging, and other social media functions. This mingling of social and academic activities raises a variety of questions by students, mainly about how much privacy they can expect while using the devices that are owned and managed by the school. The scope of the school’s ability to monitor student’s digital activities is broad. School email is able to be searched and read. Web content filters on the school’s wireless network allow administrators to see students’ web history. Software on students’ iPads enable administrators to see student’s content, apps, and location. However, school officials say these powers are rarely,
Index
News - 2 Sports- 3 Milestones - 4 Trips- 5 Op/Ed- 6 Proconsul Corner/ Features - 7 Man on the Street - 11 Honors Day 12-15 Junk in the Trunk - 16
if ever, exercised and that the arrival of the iPad in 2013 hasn’t significantly increased what teachers know about the personal interactions of students. Before the start of the school year, all students and parents were required to sign the Rules for the Use of Electronic Devices form in order for the student to receive an iPad. The form states: “An ‘Iolani email account is not the personal property of any student. The school reserves the right to monitor or read the contents for inappropriate language or information, threatening, obnoxious or demeaning comments, or any activity that is illegal.” ‘Iolani has had the ability to monitor internal emails since the system was created. “There isn’t a business or an institution that doesn’t have a policy like that,” said Dr. Timothy Cottrell, Head of School. “ I think that it’s a responsive policy, so that if there is some type of an issue, right, then email can be searched, the same way that a locker can be searched.”
Mr. Jim Crum, Director of Information Technology Services, said only one or two system administrators have access to student emails but added that the process to enter them is “cumbersome.” Administrators simply don’t have the time or interest to randomly monitor student correspondence or web browsing, said Mr. Tate Brown, Dean of Students. “It’s not something that we want to sit around and do,” he said. “I might imagine some scenario where we might have some kind of emergency or something like that, where you might want to do that, but I don’t even know how easy that is. So, no, it’s not something that we have someone sitting around reading emails, that’s not what the devices are about.” Mr. Brown also said the school has “never been down that road” of reading students’ emails.
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Raiders coming home... a month early! By Riley Sakamoto
With the addition of St. Francis to the ILH, ‘Iolani has moved homecoming week a month earlier. The change in schedule resulted in revisions to the traditional homecoming week events. In April, the student body was informed that Cheerfest would be canceled due to a significantly earlier homecoming date. “I was pretty disappointed,” says Albert Lee ‘16. “I think that Cheerfest brings the school together.” Cheerfest was initially cancelled with the thought that each grade would not have enough time to prepare a cheer. After deliberation by the proconsuls and homecoming
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committee, the decision was made to reinstate Cheerfest into the lineup of activities. The solution was that each grade would have two cheer practices instead of the usual nine. Students wondered what impact an early homecoming would have on other activities like dress days and lip sync. “Nothing will change,” says Mr. Kirk Uejio, Head of Student Activities. “The only big change is we are not having a K-12 kickoff assembly.” This will allow needed time for Cheerfest practices. This past summer, the homecoming committee and proconsuls got to work, brainstorming ways to make homecoming fun for everyone. “How to do Cheerfest was
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the biggest issue,” says Sarah Duval ‘16, a homecoming co-chair. “That, and planning activities people would come to.” Due to the committee’s determination and hard work, not only is Cheerfest back, but a wide variety of lunch activities are planned as well. Students can enjoy activities like Seussical Trivia at the center courtyard, a “Royal Ball” in the lower gym, and a student vs. faculty Superhero Showdown. Homecoming 2013 is set to be jam packed with fun, excitement, and most of all, spirit. Support the Raiders as they take on Punahou on Saturday, September 28 at Kozuki Stadium. Kick off is at 2:30 P.M.
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