[WMCoolmon]

Today, I found an iPod. (Not a mini, nano, video, or photo, just a normal iPod)

Rather than give it to the lost and found, I instead left my name and phone number and told them to call me if anyone came looking for it.

My reasoning: I have no clue what'd happen to it if I left it with the lost and found. Either way, if the rightful owner goes to claim it, he should get it back. In the case that he doesn't, I'd rather the iPod go to me, and don't see any reason why the lost and found office should get it instead. (Of course I have no idea what happens to lost + found stuff, the people that I talked to just wanted me to give it to them.)

The woman at the office didn't seem too pleased with my decision...neither did the associate dean when he called this morning...so would it have been any better to have left it with the desk?

[Taristin]

Bah. Hold your ground.

[Black Wolf]

Give it to the cops. If it works like it does here, if nobody claims it within 3 or 6 months or something, it defaults back to you.

[Fineus]

It's no more their property than it is yours. Don't take any crap.

[Flipside]

I'd do what BW suggests to be honest, though I always have suspicions on how many cops claim stuff after 3 months, still I guess every job has it's perks

You did the right the imo WMC, it would either have ended up sitting in the lost and found for ages, or being 'claimed' by someone else. Or put a notice up on the message board or the like saying that anyone who's lost an Ipod should contact you, however, you may be swamped with people if it hasn't got any identifying marks

[Taristin]

Hehe, hand it into the L&F, and come back when another person is on shift and 'claim it'

[aldo_14]

Originally posted by Flipside
you may be swamped with people if it hasn't got any identifying marks

Use the playlist

[Unknown Target]

The iPod doesn't have a name? (Like "Joe's iPod")?

[aldo_14]

Yes, it's called Gargravarr.  It's undergoing a period of trial separation from its owner.

[Nuke]

you told people you found it? scratch out the serial number and take it to a pawn shop.

[StratComm]

I still don't understand why University administrators think they have to be judge, jury and executioner over this sort of thing these days.  They have no more right to tell you what to do with it than a random stranger.  If you're making an honest effort to find its original owner, you're already doing better than Lost and Found would be and I can't see how they would fault you for that.  The only way you should be able to get into any trouble over this is if the original owner came looking for it and you refused to give it back.  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.

[IceFire]

As they say: No good deed goes unpunished!

[Ford Prefect]

This is a long shot, but did you check the notes and contacts for any ID info?

[Inquisitor]

Ask your Ombudsman. I believe that is why they exist.

[Rictor]

Finders keepers. Schoolyard wisdom is vastly underappreciated.

[WMCoolmon]

Originally posted by Ford Prefect
This is a long shot, but did you check the notes and contacts for any ID info?

Yeah. I also took it to someone I know who does have an iPod, he hooked it up to his comp and I didn't see anything on the HD itself, either. No name scratched in the back; nothing.

No name, either, apparently.

Originally posted by Inquisitor
Ask your Ombudsman. I believe that is why they exist.

Never heard of 'em. According to Wikipedia, in the US they are apparently some kind of navy personnel? But generally exist to serve as people to look into inquiries by private citizens?

I've thought about the sign thing. Never done it before, so I've been holding out in the hopes that whoever lost the iPod will call.

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'.

[mikhael]

Hold out for the written documentation--with an "effective on" date. Also, contact the police and find out what the local rules are.

[Ford Prefect]

It's beginning to sound like God just tossed it to you and said, "Here, have an iPod."

[Black Wolf]

I'm curious as to why anyone would bring an empty IPod to Uni anyway?

[Ford Prefect]

Because they just got it?