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The original decision to drop ClariNet's license was based on two factors: the need to significantly reduce our budget, and the hope that the essence of ClariNet's functionality could be replaced by the growing number of websites providing similar information. Based on the feedback of Mr. Andreopoulos and others, it is clear that ClariNet does have its share of unique benefits and that there is clear and sizeable demand for renewing it. Accordingly, we will extend the license for at least its unique functionality for the coming year. I expect that it will once again be available by the end of next week. Ultimately, the only way to achieve savings on our budget as a whole is by reducing expenses on individual items, line by line. As with any budgetary decision, renewing this software license will require making tradeoffs in other areas. There will be hard choices to make in the coming months as we continue to reduce our budget while minimizing the impact on existing services. In this case, ClariNet's utility is clear, and the impact of its renewal will be manageable, though not invisible. TOM CRAMER Director,
Technology Infrastructure
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Stanford Report, October 8, 2003
