Kent State has risen to 17th spot of the Record Industry Association of America’s worst college offenders list this school year.

“I don’t think it is that our numbers are going up, it’s just that the RIAA is doing a better job finding people,” said Paul Albert, executive director information services.

Ohio University is leading the list at the number one spot, with Purdue University and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at number two and three.

According to an RIAA news backgrounder, “The ability to monitor networks has allowed us (RIAA) to step up the volume of our notices to a rate more than three times higher than the previous academic year.”

Kent had a total amount of 112 notices in the 2005-2006 academic year. It jumped to 424 notices in the 2006-2007 academic year.

“We spend $150,000 a year to deal with the RIAA complaints,” Albert said. “We would much rather spend it or put it to wireless on the campus or technology advancements in the classroom.”

Kent has a process in which it follows when complaints about illegal downloading come through.

“We streamline the process when a residence assistant’s (RA) complaint comes through, though information services has taken over the process.” Albert said. “The offender gets an e-mail, and Resident Services cuts off their Internet services.”

In order for the student to get their Internet back they must certify that they have deleted the files, watched a video about what they can legally download and then they will get reconnected, he said.

“I do download illegally and I got caught because I had downloaded popular songs,” said Chris Noahr, freshmen biology major. “I received an e-mail and then a letter and my Internet was turned off. I signed a form and then my Internet got turned back on.”

Noahr is still downloading music but has not been caught since.

“It is easier and cheaper to download,” said Mark Chesnes, freshmen exploratory major. “It is easier to do it than buying a CD or going to the Exchange.”

“Communication with students is important,” Albert said. “We are trying to enhance the process of telling students about offenses.”

Contact general assignment reporter Caroline Lautenbacher at [email protected].