Students can still be caught illegally downloading media files while off campus, contrary to what they might think.

Jamie Dulle, assistant dean of Campus Life, said that as long as students have connected to the TCU network using their TCU login ID, illegal internet activity can be detected regardless of when or where it took place.

“The university is then notified and we are obligated to contact the student,” Dulle said.

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Copeland Shelden, a sophomore movement science major, said he was caught by Campus Life for illegally downloading music once before. Shelden has since been going off campus to download his music.

“I just go over to a friend’s house and use their Wi-Fi,” Shelden said.

Shelden’s strategy won’t work for long. Off-campus activity can still be detected, even retroactively, according to Campus Life.

Once students are contacted by Campus Life, they must remove all illegal material and file sharing programs. Then, Campus Life discusses the possible legal implications with students.

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“Some individuals have had to pay upwards of $30,000 for settlement notices enforced by corporations – a separate legal procedure not in the control of TCU,” Dulle said.

Campus Life hears concerns about many codes of conduct violations. Some students think this particular policy is an invasion of privacy.

“For copyright infringement, we are clear to explain the university is not monitoring their downloads, but rather enforcing federal law, while helping students make better decisions,” Dulle said.

The process seems to be working. Dulle said Campus Life records indicate a decrease in copyright infringement violations over the past four years.