Ruckus opens to mixed reviews

There may now be a lot more head-bobbing in University dorm rooms, thanks to a new partnership between the University and a music downloading service, but not all students are singing the deal's praises.

Yesterday was the official launch of the University's alliance with Ruckus, a music service that will allow Princeton students to obtain free music on their computers. To mark the event, the USG sponsored a study break where students could ask questions and set up Ruckus accounts.

"Students just weren't being provided with enough options," said USG senator Rohan Joshi '08, who spearheaded the project.

Just days after the alliance was finalized, though, complaints have already emerged about the service's usefulness. Ruckus allows people to download music onto their computers, but prevents burning the music onto a CD or transferring it to an iPod.

"I don't think people will use it that much, to be honest," Kathryn Bailey '10 said as she completed problem sets and listened to her iPod.

The lack of portability, she said, makes Ruckus' downloading services much less useful. "The point is to use it in other places."

Mac users have also complained that they are being completely shut out of the deal, as Ruckus is only compatible with PCs.

"It puts [Mac owners] at a disadvantage," Bailey said. "I'm sure some people will get upset."

There may be a way around the compatability issue for Mac users, however. Joshi said the service is available for students with Intel-based Macs who purchase Windows software. He also said he is in contact with a Mac representative at Princeton about creating a music downloading service through iTunes University.

USG president-elect Rob Biederman '08 told The Daily Princetonian last week that he expected the deal to "completely alleviate" music piracy on campus. But the limits of downloading capabilities may render the service untenable as an alternative to illegal downloads.

"There's a problem if [students] can't carry the music with them," said Yan Huadeng GS. "They can download the music from other sources."

But Joshi stressed that Ruckus was the best program available.

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In terms of the Mac issue, he said, "there is no service provider that provides Macs with unlimited downloads. It wasn't a choice between a service that supported Macs and one that supported PCs."

"Following that," he added, "I just chose the [provider] that fit Princeton's needs the best."

Previously, students could either buy songs off sites like iTunes or illegally download the material. The contract is the result of a student campaign to bring no-cost music downloads to campus.

"It's a student initiative," University spokeswoman Cass Cliatt '96 said. "Our principal role was to be a signatory on behalf of the student group."

In addition to defraying costs, Associate Dean of the College Thomas Dunne sees Ruckus as a way for students to explore music outside of the record label-driven mainstream.

"We are creating an opportunity for students to access a music library that will encourage them to explore different genres," Dunne said. With Ruckus, he noted, students will be able to look up artists referenced in classes at no cost. "We hope students take this opportunity ... to broaden their intellectual horizons."

Bryan Schwenk '07 and Ash Sarohia '08, members of the band Prospect Eleven, noted that the large selection of music will be an asset to not only Princeton students but also new artists who choose to sign with smaller record labels.

"It will enable some lesser-known artists and groups to get some more exposure," Schwenk said. "People already have their musical tastes. It sounds like an opportunity to broaden those and check out some things they haven't heard of before."