The blackout of websites such as Google and Wikipedia was caused by proposals of legislation. The voting on both of these proposals has since been postponed.

They are known as H.R. 3261 and S. 698, also known as SOPA and PIPA. The Stop Online Piracy Act and the Protect Intellectual Property Act.

SOPA was proposed to the House of Representatives on Oct. 26, 2011, by Rep. Lamar Smith of Texas. PIPA was proposed to the Senate by Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont.

In SOPA’s text, the bill states its purpose is to “promote prosperity, creativity, entrepreneurship and innovation by combating the theft of U.S. property, and for other purposes.”

Alli Ginsburg, senior, said she understands the purpose of the bill, but that its reality is different.

“The reality is it’s allowing internet service providers, the government, or anybody who believes something is a copyright infringement to remove as much as they want immediately without verifying intended purpose,” Ginsburg said. “It doesn’t promote creativity or entrepreneurship at all. There’s a difference between showing something and posting that it’s yours.”

Ginsburg said the bill has good intentions, but she doesn’t agree with the actions it will take.

“I think it is very well intentioned,” Ginsburg said. “It protects against foreign sites, but the way it’s set up allows sketchy things to happen and its taking away free speech. It’s letting ISPs shut down sites and ask to shut down sites without proper reasoning and there so many ways for things to go wrong. I have an issue with that.”

Ginsburg said she doesn’t support the bill and that other students should not support it either.

“It’s allowing groups on the internet to decide what you as the viewer have access to,” Ginsburg said. “You as the viewer want to be able to get all sides of info and be informed.”

Dennis Kane, speech and debate coach, shares Ginsburg’s opinion.

“I think the idea is good because there is too much piracy,” Kane said. “But the ability to shut down websites without prior notice and due process is wrong. I’m in favor of free speech and I feel this is limiting people’s right to express themselves online. Shutting down websites with no proof no prior notice no anything is infringing on people’s rights to speak their mind.”

However, Kane said he doesn’t believe the bill would have much of an effect on students.

“I doubt it would affect most students,” Kane said. “Most students don’t run their own websites.”

Blythe Grupe, senior, said she thought Google and Wikipedia going dark in protest of the bill on Thursday, Jan. 19, was a good idea.

“I think it’s good to get the word out,” Grupe said. “We need to start raising awareness about SOPA and get more people to realize its happening.”

Grupe posted on Facebook the day of the blackout urging students to sign an online petition against SOPA.

“The internet is not going to be the same,” Grupe said. “We’re losing contact with culture. Even if it is a not traditional education, we learn a lot more with the internet.”

Amidst all the controversy surrounding the bill, Smith has spoken out about keeping the bill on track. In an interview with Fox Business, Smith said he hopes the patrons’ fears will be replaced with facts.

“We are certainly hoping that the facts will overcome the fears that people might have that I don’t think are justified,” Smith said. “We are welcoming good ideas. I just haven’t heard any of the opponents come up with really any good ideas to reduce online piracy. They criticize the bill but we haven’t heard any of their good ideas alone.”

Both acts have been indefinitely postponed for voting in the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Ginsburg said she thinks it’s great that both bills have been postponed.

“I think it means the government is listening to the mass of public disinterest,” Ginsburg said. “I hope major edits are made before it goes to vote again.”