[brlug-general] No free software at LSU?

[michael dolan]

I think I need to clarify things a bit here.  I don't think LSU has a 
problem with open source.  They have this <http://www.redhat.lsu.edu> 
<http://www.redhat.lsu.edu> and there is now an offshoot of the it 
listserve just for operating systems.  I've heard they are going to 
convert some of the computers in the labs (esp. the library and computer 
science building) to linux.
I think the situation I was describing came about not because of 
system-wide distrust of open source, but because of other factors.  In 
my department, the person in charge of the IT didn't know what she was 
doing, so she hired a CS student worker.  The student worker is the kind 
that would really love to work for M$.  Since he knows how to add a 
computer to a network, his boss thinks he knows what he is doing.  I 
work for a department within a larger department, which is who the 
student worker works for.

It doesn't have anything to do with grants, funding, M$ kickbacks, or 
even LSU.  It boils down to one student worker that doesn't understand 
or like open source, and other people not understanding or caring.  It 
goes both ways, if I had his job I could install open office and mozilla 
on every machine and the higher ups wouldn't know the difference.

Actually, the boss has recently left, and someone new is in charge...  
I'm hoping to pull him aside at some point and convince him open source 
products are not all that bad.

Michael
Robert Leche wrote:

> You might want to point out to your PHB (Pointy Haired Boss) the same 
> reasons that prevent you from installing OpenOffice, are some reason 
> to remove  Microsoft applications and Microsoft operating systems 
> (because of security risks and buggy code). ;)
>
> Ask your PHB how his or her budget for IT related items, hardware and 
> software  is going.  Our department saw large Microsoft OS and 
> application cost increase over the last 2 years.   
>
> Also ask the question: Is the Louisiana tax payer and the students on 
> our campus receiving optimal value with a closed source mentality? 
> Funny thing is, I though our University was a place where alternative 
> ideas where allowed.
>
> On the other side of the issue.
> One thing to consider is the politics of grants or sources of funding 
> related computer equipment at the university. On more than one 
> occasion we have seen stipulations placed on computer systems that 
> come from grants or donations. The terms specify which OS and what 
> applications are allowed. Particularly with systems donated by........ 
> you guested it..... Micro$oft. Therein lies the rub. The answer maybe 
> the PHB is not allowed to install non-Micro$oft software.
>
>
> Cheers,
>  
> Bob