World Wide Web Steering Committee

Old Business

1. Server Migration to NT

Pete Gilbert noted that Microsoft's Internet Information Server (IIS) has been identified as the software platform to which we will migrate, and an NT box has been identified to host it Further progress is dependent on the availability of Robert Lowe and Steve Armstrong because of technical hurdles to be crossed. Pete noted that tests have demonstrated the relative ease of migrating static, public HTML pages to IIS from the VMS server. The main issues remaing to be solved relate to personal pages, authentication for protected areas, and CGI scripts.

Pete noted that he has a list of tasks to be accomplished but no true plan for the project because no resources have been assigned to it.
 

2. Search for Standard Web Editor

Pete reported on his investigations of several WYSIWIG HTML editors and the tradeoff involved in each. The discussion raised questions about the need for a WYSIWIG editor ("Can't they just learn to edit the raw HTML?"). Dreamweaver seems to be the leading contender in terms of functionality and compatibility with Lawrence templates, but it requires a well-endowed PC or Mac to perform well. GoLive, recently acquired by Adobe and soon to be available for Windows, is another interesting possibility. Pete promised to continue his search and to provide occasional progress reports to the committee.
 
3. Firewall

We had an inconclusive discussion of this issue reflecting concerns about the need for a firewall and the potential effects on student- and faculty-operated servers on the Lawrence campus network. Information from CLAC and UW-Madison suggests that firewalls are still relatively rare in the academy. Nancy reported that, following a discussion of the subject at Ad Staff, Bill Hodgkiss is to convene a meeting of interested parties to review the issue. The Web steering committee is definitely interested in the issue. Steve H. will talk with Bill about how he intends to proceed and will report back to the committee. Meanwhile, Pete will do some informal research among members of the Oberlin Library group to see how common firewalls are among its members.

New Business

Another privacy concern
Leah reported her experience that access to minutes of faculty meetings is not restricted to faculty, thereby placing student grade changes open to public view. She and Pete will investigate and take any needed action.

Next meeting

April 19, 1 p.m. in the Sampson House Conference Room

Steve Hirby