[StratComm]

Originally posted by WMCoolmon
More developments on the associate dean front. I went into his office in the afternoon; then again later in the day. The second time, his secretary had apparently talked to him about it; she said that school rules are apparently that lost & found items are held for one year by the school; after that point in time, they are moved on to the "next step" (she seemed to start muttering here, so I'm guessing they're given or auctioned away.) She told me that in essence, I was "walking around with stolen property". (I intentionally didn't bring the iPod today to force myself to think about events). She also told me that the associate dean would be able to talk to me tomorrow.

I requested a rulebook or guidelines on lost & found property from one of the students at the counseling desk on my way from school; he said that to his knowledge, there are no written rules on it. (And redirected me to ask the lost & found office...)

I'm not feeling particularly happy with what seems to be attempts to guilt me into giving them the iPod. But OTOH, I'm not too keen on having my academic career being trashed by it, or having police officers search my residence for 'stolen property'.

I'm quite close to stepping on a soap box about schools getting overly involved in people's personal lives for no apparent reason.  You're no more in posession of "stolen property" than the Lost and Found office would be, and unless they are a division of the campus police they have no more right to hold on to it for a year than you do.  There is absolutely no reason for a school to have a policy on lost and found property other than to be anal about things.

[Black Wolf]

Can you even ge bog standard IPods any more? Besides, what's the point of carrying the thing around, whether you just got it or otherwise, if you don't have any music on it? Without musioc, it's an expensive plastic paperweight.

[Ford Prefect]

If they just got it, they were probably going to hook it up to their computer in the very near future.

[WMCoolmon]

Erg, it's got a fair amount of music; over 2000 songs or so. It's also obviously been used (the headphones have worn edges, there are a number of small scratches...)

[Unknown Target]

Anything good on it?

[Jetmech Jr.]

It's mine. I lost it during a search for my long-lost great grandfather's sister's niece's brother's son (exploring the family tree and such). I would appreciate it greatly if you could send it to me as soon as possible. If there are any questions for me, WM, send me an e-mail at [email protected].

Thank you for finding it for me. The sooner you send it, the sooner that messy business with your dean will end, too.

[CP5670]

Hold out for the written documentation--with an "effective on" date.

That's what I would advise too. They can't do anything to you if there is no officially written regulation on this issue, so you certainly won't be in the wrong to ask them to direct you to a document with this information. From what you are saying, it sounds to me like they are just making things up to try to make you to feel guilty and give it up voluntarily.

I guess you learned your lesson though. Next time, just silently keep anything you find.

However, I also know firsthand how much a middle-level University authority figure can enjoy ****ing with students just because they can, so what morally and legally should be fine does not necessarily coencide with what your school decides you should do.

heh, I am getting screwed over by my college's Dean's office myself at the moment for a totally different issue.

[Goober5000]

You should also point out (if you haven't already) that you could have kept quiet about it and they would have never known you had it.

There wasn't any requirement for you to have gone through the school anyway.  You could have just put up signs on campus that said "Found an iPod at such and such a location on this date.  If it is yours, send me an excerpt of your playlist or some other identification mark and it will be promptly returned." and you'd have fulfilled your moral obligation.  The school shouldn't have any say in the matter.

[Martinus]

[color=66ff00]Most people like that don't give a damn if you use that argument.

I myself would not get too attached to it or even use it. Handing it in to the Fuzz sounds like a good idea, that way you can tell them it's what you wanted to do in the first place and tell them the university tried to seize it by coercing/threatening you.
That would be hella funny.

If it does work out, you won't get needlessly attached to an iPod, you may actually get the iPod completely legally and you've got a clear moral conscience.

That and the police might wonder why the university is auctioning off gear that doesn't belong to them.
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[aldo_14]

There's probably some daft law saying anything left on university/private premises becomes their responsibilitly/property after xx days.

[Nix]

Apple has you register the serial number on initial connect, to that users apple id.  you could contact apple about a lost ipod, that is if you WANT to give it back.  I know If i lost this pocket pc Im posting on, I'd be greatful and give them something for thier honesty. Not just a measely $20.  
When you think about it, you do have all that music off of that thing... now its   just about getting around protection...

[mikhael]

Trivial.