[This piece was published in the Lee Clarion (Lee University's student newspaper) in 2012 as a news story. The story examines how the university was dealing with new website blockers on campus.]
Lee University has recently installed a new service, Fortinet, in an attempt to keep certain inappropriate websites blocked on campus computers. The service’s program, Fortigate, allows Lee to keep a better hold on what sites are blocked on Lee’s network.
Chris Golden, director of information technology operations, said that he believes Fortigate is an important program because it helps students and faculty alike to stay strong in their walk with God.
“Obviously we’re a Christian college, and parents expect us to provide some kind of safe environment for people,” Golden said.
While the new program allows for Lee to block a number of different categories of cites, Golden said that Lee blocks very few things on its network.
“We only block adult content, pornography and malware,” Golden said. “We’re going to block sites that we know will infect your computer.”
Golden said that the reason Lee feels the need to block pornographic sites is because of their negative impact in our Christian walks.
“It’s there to help Christians be better Christians,” Golden said. “We’re just trying to help people in their walk.”
Likewise, the counseling center has experience dealing with student issues like pornography and notes the potential benefit of blocking such websites.
“Pornography is an issue that is sometimes likened to other addictions,” David Quagliana, licensed psychologist and assistant director at the counseling center, said. “Part of the process of recovery is removal of opportunities for temptation and access.”
While Golden wants to remove the temptation for students visiting pornographic sites on Lee’s network, he also feels that pornography should be the only thing that Lee blocks.
“Even though we are doing censorship to a limited extent by blocking porn, I think it’s justified at the institution that we’re at,” Golden said. “But as far as being able to see how people view certain things or other people’s opinions on things, I think that’s good to have in an educational environment.”
Golden went on to state that if students feel a site is blocked when it shouldn’t be, they can contact him, and he will pursue the issue further.
“Just because something’s blocked doesn’t mean it’s blocked for eternity,” Golden said. “You can send an email to the help desk if there’s a website that needs to be unblocked and … we will look at the website and determine whether or not it’s okay to unblock.”
One reason Golden wants to give this opportunity to students is because the current program blocks pornographic sites and all sites that may be connected to a pornographic site.
“If [the website] is a hosting company, and they also host porn, it’ll get clumped in together,” Golden explained. “So it’s not necessarily that we’re blocking the specific site, but it’s related to another one. It’s kind of like if you’re hanging out with a group of people who are known to do something, then you’re automatically assumed to be that same way.”
Overall, Golden said he is glad to have a program that allows Lee to block inappropriate cites.
“I made it a big priority to get [this program] over the summer,” Golden said. “Dr. Conn approved it over the summer out of a special fund, and we were able to get it in place.”
While the Fortigate program itself is new to Lee, the idea of having a program to block certain websites is not, said Golden.
“We had a URL filter a couple of years ago, but it caused issues in the network and slowed it down, so we haven’t had one for a long time, probably around three to four years,” Golden said.
Once Lee retired the former URL filter, individuals at Lee began noticing sites that were inappropriate for a Christian campus were accessible, and they alerted Golden of the situation.
“I got some emails from students and faculty both who pointed out the need for [a new URL filter], especially the counseling center with people who have had issues [with pornographic sites],” Golden said.
Golden said that with the new program, students will be better protected against temptations.
“We’re Christians, but we’re still human, and everybody has their own issues,” Golden said. “If you show me a perfect Christian, and you’re not pointing at Jesus, then I don’t really believe it.”
Lee University has recently installed a new service, Fortinet, in an attempt to keep certain inappropriate websites blocked on campus computers. The service’s program, Fortigate, allows Lee to keep a better hold on what sites are blocked on Lee’s network.
Chris Golden, director of information technology operations, said that he believes Fortigate is an important program because it helps students and faculty alike to stay strong in their walk with God.
“Obviously we’re a Christian college, and parents expect us to provide some kind of safe environment for people,” Golden said.
While the new program allows for Lee to block a number of different categories of cites, Golden said that Lee blocks very few things on its network.
“We only block adult content, pornography and malware,” Golden said. “We’re going to block sites that we know will infect your computer.”
Golden said that the reason Lee feels the need to block pornographic sites is because of their negative impact in our Christian walks.
“It’s there to help Christians be better Christians,” Golden said. “We’re just trying to help people in their walk.”
Likewise, the counseling center has experience dealing with student issues like pornography and notes the potential benefit of blocking such websites.
“Pornography is an issue that is sometimes likened to other addictions,” David Quagliana, licensed psychologist and assistant director at the counseling center, said. “Part of the process of recovery is removal of opportunities for temptation and access.”
While Golden wants to remove the temptation for students visiting pornographic sites on Lee’s network, he also feels that pornography should be the only thing that Lee blocks.
“Even though we are doing censorship to a limited extent by blocking porn, I think it’s justified at the institution that we’re at,” Golden said. “But as far as being able to see how people view certain things or other people’s opinions on things, I think that’s good to have in an educational environment.”
Golden went on to state that if students feel a site is blocked when it shouldn’t be, they can contact him, and he will pursue the issue further.
“Just because something’s blocked doesn’t mean it’s blocked for eternity,” Golden said. “You can send an email to the help desk if there’s a website that needs to be unblocked and … we will look at the website and determine whether or not it’s okay to unblock.”
One reason Golden wants to give this opportunity to students is because the current program blocks pornographic sites and all sites that may be connected to a pornographic site.
“If [the website] is a hosting company, and they also host porn, it’ll get clumped in together,” Golden explained. “So it’s not necessarily that we’re blocking the specific site, but it’s related to another one. It’s kind of like if you’re hanging out with a group of people who are known to do something, then you’re automatically assumed to be that same way.”
Overall, Golden said he is glad to have a program that allows Lee to block inappropriate cites.
“I made it a big priority to get [this program] over the summer,” Golden said. “Dr. Conn approved it over the summer out of a special fund, and we were able to get it in place.”
While the Fortigate program itself is new to Lee, the idea of having a program to block certain websites is not, said Golden.
“We had a URL filter a couple of years ago, but it caused issues in the network and slowed it down, so we haven’t had one for a long time, probably around three to four years,” Golden said.
Once Lee retired the former URL filter, individuals at Lee began noticing sites that were inappropriate for a Christian campus were accessible, and they alerted Golden of the situation.
“I got some emails from students and faculty both who pointed out the need for [a new URL filter], especially the counseling center with people who have had issues [with pornographic sites],” Golden said.
Golden said that with the new program, students will be better protected against temptations.
“We’re Christians, but we’re still human, and everybody has their own issues,” Golden said. “If you show me a perfect Christian, and you’re not pointing at Jesus, then I don’t really believe it.”
