Lake-Oogle…Google-head….

Following their interesting decision of last year, to forgo the use of wireless technology at Lakehead University, citing the precautionary principle (para 2). Lakehead has recently made another curious decision to outsource the provision of email services at the university to Google. Lakehead cites several advantages over their previous in-house system including server capacity, more reliable delivery, response time and storage capacity. Google itself trumpets the Lakehead partnership as a success story. However, there are critics of the deal who cite the little bugaboo of the U.S. Patriot Act and the possible application of the act in this virtual Canadian context. In this instance in particular, there is also a concern over the possible impinging upon academic freedom.

Personally, I have a gmail account, I rather like it, in fact. But I would have grave concerns if gmail were the application that my place of study or my place of employment provided for my use. Universities are a place where freedom of thought is encouraged and, hopefully, nurtured. Email is ubiquitous and essential in the modern academy and I do not think the looming presence of a potential Big Brother either encourages or nurtures that type of thought. And, after all, even paranoid people are right sometimes.