Students learn a lot of new vocabulary when they come to college. They can throw around terms like “democratic peace theory” or “historical constructivism” like a pro. But despite all the new learning, there is still one word that has a place in every college students’ heart: free.
But “free” has become a charged word in recent years, especially when used in a variety of key phrases such as “free music.” As six Tufts students learned last year after getting sued by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), “free” sometimes comes with a price. But has the hefty price tag of monetary settlements or disciplinary probation stopped students from illegal downloading?
Some students say no. “Last spring, I probably downloaded three shows a week on average,” said Alex, a junior (names have been changed). “[I] just started downloading full video games towards the end of the summer, but I only got two. I probably get a movie every two to three weeks or so.”
Alex says he’s not worried about getting caught; in fact, he admits that his downloading has increased since Tufts was issued subpoenas. “I’ve just gotten better at being careful,” he said. “I kind of figure, why worry when I haven’t used my get-out-of-jail-free card yet?”
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