[63]

Even running a port scanner is enough to face disciplinary action at many US colleges. Taking down the network for the entire school for 15 minutes surely deserved more consequences than were doled out here. I'd encourage the author to focus their efforts and talents on something more constructive.

[ronsor]

Excessive "consequences" don't encourage "better behavior," they incentivize more secrecy.

And eventually the knowledge gets out anyway and someone who doesn't care does more damage that's harder to clean up.

[quietsegfault]

Why would they deserve “more consequences”? Academia isn’t the real world. It’s a place where people can learn how to interact with the world as an adult. People should be encouraged to experiment (within reason) and if there is no actual bad intent, consequences should focus on learning rather than punishment.