🚀 go-pugleaf

Note: All opinions expressed below by me are solely mine, and
not necessarily those of anybody/anything else.

In a previous article, xx192@cleveland.Freenet.Edu (Radio Scanner Sig) says:

>Howdy, everyone.
>
>This letter is to welcome you all to the Radio Scanner SIG on the Cleveland
>Free-Net system, and to inform you of some recent happenings around here.
>
>First off, My cousin, Scott Berringer (Primary SigOp of this SIG) had his
>account 'suspended' for some absurd reasoning. When he attempted to get any
>information about how to get his account back, he was shunned by our great
>'System Administrator', (Jeff Gumpf). This self-appointed Administrator has
>seen fit to take this system into his clutches and run it 'his way'.

I'm not sure what you meant by self-appointed, but Jeff Gumpf has
been officially involved in the Cleveland Freenet stuff as a part of
his job for several years now.  He was never self-appointed, and it
is a duty of his job.  As for running it his way, well, it sounds 
like you don't agree with him.  I can't comment on the specifics
of your complaint about Scott's account because it appears you have
heard more than I have (which is nothing, because I'm not involved
in Freenet in any way such as this).  It should be noted that Jeff
wears many hats, and that's not his entire job--he's also Technical
Director of the department, overseeing a lot of stuff (and wearing
a lot of hats).

>When my cousin and I started out on this system some 9-10 years ago, this
>system was a 'community computing system'. Meaning, the community had some
>say in the overall running of this system. Since then, (Actually since INS
>took over), it has been at the control of ONE person. Namely Jeff Gumpf.

As for it being under the sole control of Jeff Gumpf, that's simply 
not true.  Keep in mind that sysops have control over their own segment 
of the Cleveland Freenet, only.  While there are no longer any Freenet
steering commitee meetings, there aren't any need for them.  The
announcement was made (and in the Plain Dealer) some time ago that only 
bug fixes and maintenance will be made to the Cleveland Freenet's
software, I believe.

Cleveland Freenet has always had a central figure who's heavily
involved in actions of this sort.  Before it was Jeff, it was Tom
Grundner, it's founder.  That's nothing new.  Committee actions 
tend to be slow and that's for convenience, and smoothness of 
operation, I presume.  If everything went before a committee,
many things would take a lot longer than they do now.

As for the horrible things that have happened to the Cleveland Freenet
Community System since Case Western Reserve took over control of it,
let's list some that come to my mind...  (as a user of the Cleveland
Freenet starting in 1989, and hearing about stuff before that from
co-workers, etc, I haven't used it for as long as you have, but I've
still seen it grow, substantially, first hand.)

There are currently approx 60 odd phone lines, all with V.32bis 
(14,400 bps) modems on the general access rotary.  
Before CWRU: there were less than 10, running at 2400 bps.

There are currently 2 different community client machines, 1 
disk server, which also does some of the processing, 1 news
server, and several other machines that aren't dedicated to 
the community part of Cleveland Freenet, but nevertheless are
involved.  There's also 2 internet access client machines for
the Cleveland Freenet, which are admittedly being used by
CWRU affiliates, but are mostly used by community folk who
have internet access, both in and outside of the Cleveland 
area.
Before CWRU: 1 computer doing everything, supporting a max of
like 5 concurrent connections.

Not only are things faster, they are expanded greatly from
before.  CWRU has pumped millions of dollars of support and
improvements into the Cleveland Freenet.  There's no denying
that.  Sure, the system hasn't always been reliable, but
no system ever is.  Over the last few months, I'd say it's
been doing pretty well.  One needs to remember that Cleveland
Freenet is most certainly the biggest FREE public access bbs
on the planet (anybody who knows of any free systems with more
than 40,000 active members.  There are always going to be problems
with a system this large, be them global or specific to one
or a few users, which happens from time to time.

For what CWRU has put into it, there is a point of view
that says CWRU's not gotten it's money's worth.

Many people have complained that "CWRU affiliates get more
of this, that, etc..." should remember that CWRU affiliates
are "paying customers".

>Anyone attempting to ask any sort of question about this system, such as
>where to send donations, how to volunteer time, etc... are also shunned by
>this fellow. Unless, by chance, you happen to be 'affiliated with Case
>Western Reserve University', you will also be shunned from giving
>suggestions, etc... to this Community Computing System.

No suggestions for added features will be implemented for any parts
of the Cleveland Freenet, not just the community parts.

>Ask yourself this, do you really need a DICTATOR running a COMMUNITY
>COMPUTING SYSTEM? Or, do we need a community 'board of directors' so to
>speak. There are a lot of other Community Computing Systems where the
>community has monthly meetings, fund raisers, etc... to support their home
>system. When My cousin or anyone else has approached INS with these
>statements, they were all told "We can't accept donations, we're a state
>funded school".

The last remark is simply not true.  Case Western Reserve is a private
institution.  It's never been a state funded school in the way you
seem to think.  Jeff's also an alumnus, as well as a staff member, 
as am I, and he never would have said this.  I have no idea where 
you might have gotten it from.

>Also, if you wish to express any concerns about the suspension of my
>Cousin's accounts, please direct them to 'jag (Jeff Gumpf)'.

Without telling any specifics, you want people to e-mail Jeff with
complaints about how he's running the system?  What good would
that do? (other than irritate him, I suppose, but I can't speak
for Jeff)

>Actually, I think he might just send all e-mail to /dev/null.

This is not true.  

>But, it's worth a shot.
>
>Thanks for your time.
>
>Andrew.
>Acting Primary SigOp, Radio Scanner SIG @ Cleveland Free-Net

Might I remind you that personal attacks on people and complaints
of this nature having little or nothing to do with your sig, posted
to other news groups, should really be done from your regular account, 
not some xx account, but that's just my opinion, and I really don't
care how you do it, I guess.  There's no censorship of complaints
going on here.

Note: All opinions expressed above by me are solely mine, and
not necessarily those of anybody/anything else.
-- 
``I saw a werewolf drinkin' a pina colada at Trader Vick's.
  His hair was perfect!''
                      -- Warren Zevon, "Werewolves of London"