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Purpose: To establish policy for the AOG World Wide Web.
BACKGROUND — The WWW provides an open medium for the transmittal of information to graduates and friends of the Academy. The distribution of responsibility for the creation of information to be displayed on the AOG web server requires a basic set of acceptable standards for all to follow. The dynamic nature of the web which results from its ability to seamlessly draw on information from many sources demands careful consideration when creating links to outside organizations. This document addresses these issues and lays out the basic policy for organizations to follow when creating documents and links for display through the AOG World Wide Web server.
BASIC STANDARDS — The AOG WWW server operates under the guidelines of the USMA WWW Policy. The AOG seeks to provide a quality web site which merits a prominent link being displayed on the USMA WWW home page pointing to the AOG’s home page. The high standards the Academy demands from the Corps of Cadets and the Staff & Faculty shall apply to those preparing information for the AOG WWW regardless of location.
BASIC LINKS — The AOG WWW will ordinarily provide links to the home page of the organizations listed below. Titles of the home pages must specifically and exclusively identify the organizations for which it is prepared. The Webmaster may, at his discretion, link to or approve request for links to other organizations on a case by case basis. Personal home pages will not be linked to the AOG WWW.
West Point Societies
Classes (to include the senior class at USMA)
Firms with a contractual affiliation to the AOG
Parents Clubs (with consent of PAO)
Other academy alumni associations
Useful utilities related to AOG mission
LEVELS OF INFORMATION — The following conventions will be used to discuss the sensitivity of information to be published on the AOG WWW:
Level 1: Information at this level would be appropriate for
the front page of the New York Times. Information will be positive in nature and supportive of USMA and the ideals which it represents. Alumni affairs activities and information about West Point and its graduates are prime material for the AOG WWW server as long as such information does not materially duplicate that being published by other USMA web servers designed for that purpose.
Level 2: Information at this level will be accessible only to members of the Association of Graduates (to include associate members), Cadets, parents of current cadets, and AOG and Academy Staff & Faculty. Information at this level may include any information from Level 1. It also includes information which could be considered constructive criticism, contrary opinion, calls for change or action concerning the Academy, the AOG, classes, societies, and other affiliated organizations. Necessary controls must be in place on the web to verify identity and provide password protected access before Level 2 information will be authorized for publication on the AOG Web or any of its down-linked web pages.
Level 3: Information at this level will be accessible to members of the Association of Graduates only. It includes, primarily, career advisory services, job opportunities, and rosters of home/business addresses and telephone numbers of graduates. Internet e-mail address are considered to be in the public domain (Level 1) unless specifically requested otherwise by the owner of the address.
CONTENT OF THE MESSAGE — The AOG is apolitical and non-profit. Promoting political candidates or commercial products or commercial or political fund raising efforts over the list is against AOG policy. The offering of a “free” service that could result in a commercial relationship is also prohibited. In addition, tasteless jokes, crude or indecent comments or photos, information promoting religious, racial or ethnic prejudice, and any information which undermines the good order and discipline of a quality web site will have no place on the AOG WWW or any of its down-linked sites.
ABSENCE OF CONFORMANCE — The above organizations may be linked to the AOG WWW after determination that the web site meets the intent of this policy. Web sites requesting to be linked to the AOG WWW will be provided a copy of this policy for compliance. Periodic reviews or complaints against sites which reveal non-compliance with this policy will be reviewed by the Director of Communications. Sites found to be in violation of this policy will be notified and given the opportunity to make corrections. Sites which fail to comply will simply be delinked. The Vice President for Information Systems will use only material and links found on the organization’s home page to make his decision. Appeals may be made to the President of the AOG for final resolution in which case all material and links maintained by the site will be subject to review.
» USING THE CLASS CREST ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB
With the proliferation of communications and home pages on the World Wide Web, both the Academy and AOG are seeing more instances of questionable use of the Academy and class crests. Because of this and other potential situations, the AOG thought it appropriate to inform all classes of their rights regarding class crests and measures a class might take to protect its crest should its leadership feel it necessary.
Each class owns its crest. Neither the Academy nor the AOG has any controlling interest in class crests. The AOG has a vested interest, however, in that when all members of a class are deceased, the ownership of its crest is entrusted to the Association of Graduates in perpetuity. Each class must make its own decisions, in accordance with its governing procedures, regarding the disposition and use of its crest. No other person or organization may properly make that decision for the classes.
Although the Academy has registered its crest, we are aware of only a few classes that have taken legal measures to protect their crests. Crests may be registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark office, Department of Commerce. Assistance with that process can be obtained by contacting the Director, Class Support Program, or you can access the Trademark Electronic Application System at www.uspto.gov/teas.
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