[FC-discuss] Hokies and Freedom

[FreeCulture.org - Students for Free Culture]

Writes Clifford Owens on our blog:

In the peaceful town of Blacksburg, VA, where none would suspect, a
great evil lurks. Deep in the [tablet requirements][1], the mandatory
[proprietary software bundles][2], and [RIAA litigation letters][3] lies
The Hideous Beast of … NonFreedom. It preys on the helpless innocents,
incarcerating them into vendor lock-ins, and subpoenaing their network
records.

This past fall, one student organization has risen to face this monster.
They call themselves [Free Culture at Virginia Tech][4]. Touting a name
that makes most other students wonder what the heck their group does and
whether or not it has anything to do with nudist colonies, they fight
nonfreedoms as best they can. They have [shown public domain movies][5]
in partnership with the Virgina Tech Union, given away [CDs][6] of [free
music][7], played [Frets on Fire][8] before meetings, and toyed around
with [XOs][9].

![RMS @ VT and the Free Culture @ VT crew][10]

Occasionally, The Hideous Beast becomes too much for them, and they have
to call in for help. This past month, [Richard Stallman visited][11],
and confronted it through means of speech. Shoeless, and sockless, he
dealt the beast a mighty blow.

Tomorrow, Wednesday 23rd, on the 4th anniversary of the founding of
Students for Free Culture, [Nelson Pavlosky will be visiting to do
battle][12]. If you should happen to be in Blacksburg, VA, come join us
at 6:00pm in Pamplin 30, and see Nelson help us free Hokie culture!

   [1]: http://www.eng.vt.edu/academics/comp_require.php

   [2]: http://www.ita.vt.edu/studentsoftware/website/products/stuproduc
tinfo.183.html

   [3]: http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/2008/01/29/riaa_lawsuit_n
ames_36_students

   [4]: http://vt.freeculture.org/

   [5]: http://vt.freeculture.org/?p=1552

   [6]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghosts_I-IV

   [7]: http://www.jamendo.com/en/

   [8]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frets_on_Fire

   [9]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OLPC_XO-1

   [10]: https://bioinformatics.cs.vt.edu/~ibcliffo/backdoor/rms-vtfc-
small.jpg

   [11]:
http://itmanagement.earthweb.com/osrc/article.php/12068_3737586_1

   [12]: http://vt.freeculture.org/?p=1579

URL: http://freeculture.org/blog/2008/04/22/hokies-and-freedom/