In an effort to stop the illegal downloading of some files and to protect students' computers and the Penn State network from viruses, the university is creating a firewall on its server. The firewall will block file-sharing Web sites such as Kazaa from the university's server.

Robin Anderson, the assistant director of Information Technology Services, said the firewall would make the Penn State server safer from viruses and worms.

But as Penn State witnessed earlier this semester, it seems that the most danger comes from opening e-mail messages, not programs like Kazaa. Also, programs such as AOL Instant Messenger have the potential to transmit illegal files and send viruses.

Will measures be taken to curtail its use as well?

Penn State officials said the implementation of the firewall, which is scheduled to be ready next fall, is independent of the university recently signed deal with Napster.

The timing of the Napster deal and the installation of the firewall seems dubious, to say the least.

Why did the university's concern for virus protection come just days after it signed a deal with Napster?

Penn State spokesman Tysen Kendig said efforts such as the firewall will be continued now because the university is offering a legal alternative to file-sharing Web sties.

It seems the university has decided to protect students from themselves. But students are adults.

They should be able make decisions for themselves and bear the responsibility of their decisions.

And it is interesting what the university has chosen to protect students from. Web sites like Kazaa are being blocked in part to prevent students from illegally downloading music and other files.

But if Penn State is so concerned with protecting students, why doesn't it block other illegal Web sites, such as those displaying child pornography or those facilitating plagiarism by selling pre-written term papers?

By blocking sites like Kazaa, the university is ignoring the fact that not all files that are downloaded from Kazaa are illegal.

For many users of downloading programs, useful and permissible tools are gone.

The new firewall also raises questions freedom of choice.

Only six Penn State students tested the new Napster program before the university decided to adopt it.

The student body had no say in this decision. And now, arguably as a result of this deal, the university is limited students' access to the Internet.

Students living on campus have no choice for their Internet provider. There is no recourse for them if they disagree with the university's decision regarding the firewall. That is no fair.

Undergraduate Student Government Vice President Takkeem Morgan has already expressed his disapproval of the firewall. During Tuesday night's Senate meeting, he called on students to "go crazy" when Kazaa is blocked from the Penn State server.

Morgan is right.

Students should not take lightly the university's unilateral decision making process in which corporations, not students, are consulted.