[13387] in APO-L
Re: National Disclaimer
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Mu)
Tue Dec 12 17:02:17 1995
Date: Tue, 12 Dec 1995 16:56:49 -0500
Reply-To: Mu <qasama@BLUESKY.NET>
From: Mu <qasama@BLUESKY.NET>
To: Multiple recipients of list APO-L <APO-L@VM.CC.PURDUE.EDU>
> Many of our members have access to e-mail, the Internet and
>specifically the World Wide Web. If you search for references to
>Alpha Phi Omega, you come up with a growing list of web sites and
>home pages. These sites are sponsored by individual members,
>chapters, sections, regions and even some national committees. While
>they all provide some valuable information about the Fraternity and,
>to date, all of the information seems accurate, there is no official
>web site sponsored or monitored by the National Fraternity at this
>time.
>
> Therefore I would like to ask that all web sites that provide
>references to Alpha Phi Omega include the following notice:
While this is a laudable and neccessary thing, I've some questions and
concerns about what your asking?
While this is relatively minor to ask someone, there are several
problems I see...
1. Someone who is not particularly concerned with accuracy of
information is most likely not going to put in a disclaimer.
2. This disclaimer is not up on the web anywhere (unless someone like
Fuzz has already put it up and then it's location should be
announced). If it were just a page that were out there... people might
be more likely to to link it if that were so. (brings up the idea of a
permanent fraternity controlled (rather than a school/job controlled
one) prescence on the net)
3. The majority of the references to Alpha Phi Omega are NOT in the
control of the chapter, but rather in the university CWIS's out there.
And chapters may not even be aware that this information exists. This
infomration is usually written by administrators with half a clue or
it may even be taken directly out of a school publication.
4. We as a fraternity do not control how a chapter expresses
themselves on their campus. We realistically can't. We also can not
tell people how to express themselves. For instance we can't ask that
a recruitment poster be changed if we don't like it (approve as a
nationals) because someone from outside may walk by and get "a wrong
impression" (a couple of T-shirts that have caused a stir come to mind)
5. A person most likely not to put your disclaimer in is someone who
is just creating a web page. Your disclaimer assumes that the person
reads apo-l. Many chapters do not read it. (or the people who read it
don't pass the information on) I know for a fact that the active
chapter at my alma mater does not read apo-l (most don't even
know/care that it exists) and this a tech school where email is a way
of LIFE (but they hasve a web page). This sort of thing needs to go
out on paper (you might even append a section to the publicity
pamphlet that goes out), and it needs to go out every year... as
accounts disappear and files get eaten (etc...)
A better way to deal with this to create a national page
(easier even to jsut use fuzz's stuff but create it as apo.org... I
know there are alumni who will pay to keep something like a national
web page up... or even get it for us free)) and have someone keep an
eye out for bad (erronous) pages. (I believe Randy Finder does just
that) I would also recommend adding in an APO and the internet section
to the publicty pamphlet if this sort of thing worries you, as it is
most likely to reach your intended audience.
<disclaimer for web pages deleted>
> In addition, many members have worked long and hard to create
>electronic text and hyper-text versions of our bylaws, the Pledge Manual,
>and other Fraternity publications. To prevent any confusion about such
>docuements, I would ask that this modified version of the above notice be
>included in the body of their text:
<copyright notice deleted>
If I read my publications correctly I note that each of them has a
date and copyright notices attached. So the problem is not getting
people to copy the publications but rather to use the whole document
> We hope that these statements will help avoid any confusion among
>web sites, and also provide a means for interested individuals who view
>your home pages to contact the National Fraternity. While their use is
Actually the extension group that my section has that found APO
through the web, specifically avoided using that means of contact, and
instead talked to the chapter who was closest to them and also had a
page. So I have my doubts here...
>voluntary, our intent is that you will find them helpful in defining your
>sites and their connection to Alpha Phi Omega. We greatly appreciate all
>the time and effort that has been invested in providing an Alpha Phi
>Omega presence on the Internet, and welcome your comments on how we can
>continue to support that presence.
I'm extremely happy that the International and Public Relations Committee
has made this effort... I hope this feedback gives the committee some help
in defining the task before them. I held this response as long as I did in
hopes that someone else would raise my concerns.(plus I had a vacation too :) )
-John Grossi
Alumni Omicron Iota
Co-Owner APOSOC-L and Section 94 Chair
