Free music downloads arrive at NMSU
News Reporter
By: Denise Nava
Issue date: 4/10/08 Section: News
NMSU Housing has joined Ruckus Network, Inc., a multimedia network, to provide students with the opportunity to download free and legal music from numerous artists.
The Housing and Residential Life office trial tested the service last semester for students to enjoy free music without facing legal matters.
"Ruckus is free downloading directly to [a student's] PC," Julie Weber, director of NMSU Housing and Residential Life, said. "It is a great option for students to have."
Ruckus offers a variety of music with a library of more than three million songs and is available to all NMSU students living on or off campus; however, Ruckus works best with high speed Internet.
Weber explained she found out about the service by working at other college campuses around the country and realized how important it was for students.
"Our students deserve the chance to have amenities offered to them that other students have on other college campuses," Weber said. "I think having this service is really good for students."
The downloading service is virus-free and users must log-in once a month in order to keep the account active.
"I think it is a blast to use," said Sarah Stoltzfus, president of Student Government for Campus Residents.
Even though Ruckus allows free downloads, students must pay a $20 fee per semester if they wish to transfer their music to an MP3 player or burn CDs, Weber said.
Weber also said NMSU faculty and staff can use the service, but will have to pay an $8.99 fee per month, and alumni can choose to keep the service for a small cost.
"It's good to have students not getting in trouble for illegal downloading," Weber said. "Ruckus is able to offer students a place to download music."
Stoltzfus has already downloaded more than 300 songs and was very enthusiastic about the music it offers.
"[Ruckus] took a very short amount of time to download," Stoltzfus said. "I listen to it everyday. I am thrilled that Ruckus is available to students and I am excited for a new service."
The Housing and Residential Life office trial tested the service last semester for students to enjoy free music without facing legal matters.
"Ruckus is free downloading directly to [a student's] PC," Julie Weber, director of NMSU Housing and Residential Life, said. "It is a great option for students to have."
Ruckus offers a variety of music with a library of more than three million songs and is available to all NMSU students living on or off campus; however, Ruckus works best with high speed Internet.
Weber explained she found out about the service by working at other college campuses around the country and realized how important it was for students.
"Our students deserve the chance to have amenities offered to them that other students have on other college campuses," Weber said. "I think having this service is really good for students."
The downloading service is virus-free and users must log-in once a month in order to keep the account active.
"I think it is a blast to use," said Sarah Stoltzfus, president of Student Government for Campus Residents.
Even though Ruckus allows free downloads, students must pay a $20 fee per semester if they wish to transfer their music to an MP3 player or burn CDs, Weber said.
Weber also said NMSU faculty and staff can use the service, but will have to pay an $8.99 fee per month, and alumni can choose to keep the service for a small cost.
"It's good to have students not getting in trouble for illegal downloading," Weber said. "Ruckus is able to offer students a place to download music."
Stoltzfus has already downloaded more than 300 songs and was very enthusiastic about the music it offers.
"[Ruckus] took a very short amount of time to download," Stoltzfus said. "I listen to it everyday. I am thrilled that Ruckus is available to students and I am excited for a new service."
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