The University removed telephone numbers and addresses from every student listing in the online directory Monday, addressing concerns from students about having their contact information available to anyone.
With less than two weeks left in the term, University Vice President for Student Affairs Anne Leavitt acknowledged the change could pose problems for students who have misplaced numbers of friends they need to call. The printed version of the directory was discontinued for the 2004-05 academic year.
Leavitt said the change is a temporary solution to student concerns over what information is available about them on the Internet.
“Students wanted more options for restricting or not restricting their information,” Leavitt said. “They didn’t like having their home addresses listed. It made them feel unsafe, and they got unwanted mail.”
University Registrar Herb Chereck said that during the past few years his office has
received a steady flow of
complaints — three to six each month — about student information being available to virtually “anybody in the world.”
“We didn’t have an alternative,” Chereck said. Students have to choose “all or nothing” if they want certain information restricted, either displaying everything or not having their name listed at all.
Chereck hopes to implement a computer program by spring 2005 that would allow students to choose which information
to display.
Students would be able to check a box opting out of a directory listing, or they could choose whether to display information in three categories: name and e-mail address, current address and telephone number, and academic major and undergraduate/graduate student status.
Now, if a student chooses to restrict their information, University registrar employees do not release any information requested about the student, including whether that student is even enrolled, Chereck said.
The new system will allow students to have a record that they are attending the University while suppressing information they may want kept private, Associate Registrar Sue Eveland said.
“It’s time to let students decide what they want to have out there about themselves,” Eveland said.
Directory restrictions vary across the Oregon University System schools, Eveland said. Some schools don’t release any information about anybody, while others define specific items to withhold or release, she said.
Leavitt said colleges and universities are generally guided by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, a federal law governing the release of student records. The law gives the University choices about what elements to classify as directory information, she said, resulting in different policies at different schools.
Leavitt said many University students didn’t mind having their information in a printed directory, because it became quickly outdated. Students who were worried about their available information could move or change their phone number to regain privacy.
“But electronically, it changes immediately,” Leavitt said. “The accuracy of the electronic directory makes some students not want their addresses on there.”
Eveland said the University stopped issuing printed directories in fall because the directories were so quickly out of date.
ASUO President Adam Petkun said although temporarily removing
students’ phone numbers and addresses could be inconvenient and “it’s unfortunate it’s taking so long, (it’s) the right move at the time.”
“They’ve had a lot of concerns from students who were uncomfortable with having that information online,” Petkun said. “I look forward to having a full range of options.”
Chereck said many students have indicated to him that people can reach them sufficiently through e-mail.
Until the system allowing students to choose their directory information is fully implemented in spring term, numbers and addresses not restricted by students will be available from the Registrar’s Office.

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