Student Government is offering free music and movie downloads through Ruckus, a new music-downloading system that will be offered to University students next semester. “It really is free to students as long as they just want to download the songs to their computer,” said Josh King, Student Government vice president. “There are copyright issues that makes them pay additional if they would like to move it to some type of media device like an mp3 player, CD or iPod.” In addition to free music downloads, on-campus residents will be able to download full-length movies. “This is the only way to distribute free movies that the movie companies would agree to,” King said. “Students will be able to download movies, but only if they live on campus.” King said Ruckus has also given a free server for students living on campus so their music and movie downloads will be faster. King said Ruckus is free because advertising fully funds it. “Their services are only available to college students,” King said. “By narrowing their usage to the college demographic, they can charge more for advertisements directed at college students and pay less for the negotiated contracts with the music companies.” Will Harris, SG Director of Communications and former Opinion Editor for The Daily Reveille, said Ruckus is a great service. “There’s really not a catch,” Harris said. “The library is as large as iTunes, so you can’t complain about the song selection.” Another aspect that sets Ruckus apart from other music downloading systems is that it is set up like an online community. “Ruckus allows you to get friends, just like Facebook, and see what they are listening to,” King said. “You will be able to access playlists that students have published and read reviews on the music and artists that your friends may be listening to.” Ruckus has also promised to donate $2,000 to Student Government to spend on student initiatives if 3,000 students use Ruckus in the first month. King said SG is unsure how they will spend the money, but it will go toward the students. Harris said SG found out about Ruckus from other universities that use the system. “We’re basing it off the model of Ball State [University],” Harris said. Harris said Ball State now has one of the lowest piracy rates in the nation. King said the contract with Ruckus is still in the finalization process. “We, as a university, have accepted the terms to which the Ruckus service requires and are going through the paperwork of finalizing a contract,” King said. “I have been told, by my contact in Contracted Auxiliary Services, that this process will be over in the next two weeks.” King said his goal in announcing the system before the contract was finalized was to alert students of its existence before the summer.
—–Contact Caitlyn Scott at cscott@lsureveille.com