yeah. given the nature of what im studying, the rules(i guess you can call them rules) are strict, and the liability, well you can imagine. i had a chit chat with my professor after i was ripped into by the bio department chair people. anyways, my professor explained the subtleties of how i can get into trouble as well as get the school in trouble. my future in biomedical research is riding this, so im not going to risk it.
there reasoning was that this forum, though the forum itself is not illegal(of course, freedom of speech and what not), is used to "glean information for illegal activity", which is a direct quote from the head chair. he is a completely understanding man who is trying to watch his ass and his department's federal funding.
i tried to argue that i was going to used this specific thread as a way to collaborate and make my final thesis more sound. but unfortunately "the nature of the forum, just wont fly with the law" to quote my professor.
so, after may 9 2008, if i so much as post a random string of letters (like asdflkjflkdlkfjfdsd) anywhere on this forum, im busted. and i did find out how they found out about RIU. just as i thought, they googled me and my studies and found it within the first couple of hits. (rofl, eff the internet.)
but i'll be back, oh yes. ill be back. in two years time, i will be back with more information than this community will be willing to grind through.
until then, so long, fare well.