KU Faculty Get Open Source Software
From Kutztown-LUG
Linux User Group brings open source to Kutztown University
Kutztown Linux User Group to bring open source software to Kutztown University faculty and students
KUTZTOWN, February 26th, 2007 - Kutztown Linux User Group, the lead sponsor of a new project to bring Linux & open source software to Kutztown University, today announced plans for distribution of the equivalent of $60,000 in commercial software to faculty at Kutztown University.
The Linux User Group will help transition users of proprietary commercial software to free and open source software by providing discs and support over the next several months. This will mean that faculty members and students will no longer have to purchase such titles as Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, & FrontPage to get work done.
"Firefox is one of the most successful community-based open source projects to date," said Christopher Waid, President of the Kutztown Linux User Group. "They have done an amazing job at building a free cross-platform solution that is open source, more secure, and free. As this project has shown it makes allot of sense to use open source software, and so we are looking forward to helping nudge it along."
Several of the applications that will be distributed include OpenOffice, Firefox, Gaim, Thunderbird, and Nvu. Students can also gain access to these application through links on the Kutztown Linux User Groups web site at http://www.kutztownlinux.org/ or visiting information technology's Resnet help desk for a CD.
"The very idea behind Free Software is the belief that users should have control over their computers," commented Isaac Rieksts, president of the Kutztown Technology Association. "The difference between freeware/proprietary software and free software is the one is open to inspection whereas the others may contain harmful code that could have unknown or negative consequences. You see this with many of the commercial applications on the market today."
About Linux & the Kutztown Linux User Group
The Kutztown Linux User Group was founded to provide a means for local users to connect with each other for support, promotional, and educational purposes. GNU/Linux or Linux is an open source and free operating system that usually comes bundled with a set of applications. Different combinations of the Linux operating system and GNU software form what are known as distributions.
About Free Software
The Free Software Foundation believes in several users rights. That is users should have the right to use, study, copy, modify, and redistribute software. One of the founders, Richard Stallman believes proprietary software is more than just a little problematic but immoral. as well because it causes a lot of unhappy social and psychological side-effects.
About Open Source Software
While the Free Software and Open Source software camps are very similar they differ slightly in that Open Source advocates don't necessarily believe that proprietary software is immoral or unethical.
For more information and interview requests:
Kutztown Linux User Group
Christopher Waid
(908) 797 - 9466
