Software an Individual Choice

To the editors:

I want to clarify some issues raised in the article "Word, Excel No Longer Free on Harvard Network" (News, April 13). We chose not to participate in the new Microsoft Campus Agreement because it required payment for the software for every student, whether or not he or she used the software of already owned it. Picking software for Personal productivity is an individual choice and students who own a computer should also own productivity software of their choice. For students who need Microsoft Office but do not own it, we provided the latest version for use on all public lab computers.

An important note: The Crimson should also have mentioned that installing software which one does not own onto his or her personal computer is software piracy and could subject the offender to legal action. The writer is director of computer services for the Faculty of Arts and Sciences.