The Post's Dave Hendricks sat down with a female sophomore accused of downloading music by the RIAA. She remains anonymous because she could face legal action.
Post: When and how did the letter arrive?
FS: Today, around five. I was on the phone and I heard a knock on my door. I was on the phone so I didn't even look and see who it was; I thought it was one of my mod-mates who always knocks and asks for something. A guy was just there, he said he was an RD and he said 'I had to deliver you this letter. It's just about illegal downloading and it's just about information that every student on campus is getting.' Which means he tricked me ' and he said you have to sign for this. I didn't know what it was until I read it.
Post: What did you download?
FS: Just music.
Post: What do you think of how the University has handled illegal downloading?
FS: I know it's a problem and I know that it's illegal, but I still don't think they should do these drastic charges and stuff. I know we got warned, which should have been when all of us should have stopped and when I should have ... but I thought it was just a threat. I didn't think it was going to go into this type of action. They're just overdoing this whole ordeal with illegal downloading.
Post: What do you think of the RIAA's tactics?
FS: I really don't actually don't know much about the RIAA, but I have started doing research ... I think they're being greedy, they're trying to make money off the backs of college students and they're trying to get money off the parents too ... They're focusing just on college students, why not on everyone?
Post: How did your parents react?
FS: I called my mom and I read her the letter after I got it. I saw one part and I asked 'What type of letter is this?' and she said 'You're being sued.' She was kinda mad because I did know that was illegal and that I did it (anyway). She's just mad that I have to pay $3,000 to settle this. If I don't each song is $750 and if I don't settle it I'll have to pay over six grand. She's going to help me pay this off so nothing worse could happen.
Post: How long have you been downloading music?
FS: About two and a half, three years, maybe less than that ... I didn't even know about downloading until sophomore or junior year of high school.
Post: What program do you use to download and have you used any other programs in the past?
FS: Limewire and Kazaa.
Post: Is there any particular reason you chose those programs?
FS: Just because they're free and I can't afford iTunes, but iTunes is looking cheap now. (laughs) A dollar isn't looking that bad for a song, compared to $750 a song with this going on. I'm going to have to resort to using iTunes now because I have to sign a contract saying I won't do it again ... they said I'd have to sign an agreement saying I'd never do it again until the day I die ... they said if you have any burnt CDs or anything on your iPod, you have to destroy it ... but still I think that's really not fair.
Post: Why do you think they caught you?
FS: I want to know why it's just a handful of people that they're making an example and not everyone ... I don't why I'm the one out of this whole group of people I know that got busted.
Post: Are you a regular purchaser of music?
FS: When I get a gift card. I used to think it waste to pay a dollar a song.
Post: Did you get the e-mail this year about illegal downloading?
FS: Yes.
Post: Did you know it's a violation of the student code of conduct?
FS: Oh, yeah, I actually did.
Post: Are you considering contacting someone at the University about this?
FS: No ... I'm not a very big fan of the university right now, they're just going to say 'I told you so' and I really don't want to deal with that right now
Post: What do you think about judiciaries being involved?
FS: I didn't think I would end up going to judiciaries ... I think being in trouble (with the record companies) is enough.
Post: What did you think about the timing of these letters?
FS: Oh my god, I think it came at the worst possible time ever ... I think it's wrong they sent them right before finals ... I'm going to be so distracted with this that it's going to be hard to concentrate for finals.
Post: Did you ever think you would get caught downloading music?
FS: I thought, there are so many people in the world, how am I part of this? I never thought it would go this far and be this bad ... I never thought it'd be a college student who'd be getting busted.
Post: What do you think students should know about this situation?
FS: I think there should be a movement started and we should boycott the record companies ... I think people should stop buying CDs and going to concerts ... If we stop giving them money, I think they'll probably stop ... I want them to see we're not happy.
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Dave Hendricks
