I share your concern but it is sometimes necessary to have a joint reading in this kind of debate. An academic group would also be an acceptable approach to enable us to have a scientific understanding of the problem. SCHOMBE BAUDOUIN 2011/6/29 Andrew A. Adams <[log in to unmask]> > In regards specifically to the notion of creating an "academic" > constituency > within the Non-Commercial Stakeholder Group, it strikes me that there isn't > really a clear definition of the purpose of constituencies within SGs. The > purpose of the SGs would appear clear - to provide the GNSO with balanced > (in multiple ways) inputs from various groups whose views are believed to > be > important in reaching suitable compromises on individual issues or > balancing > benefits and detriments between groups across multiple decisions. Whether > this works or is the right structure is a separate question, at least the > intent is relatively clearly defined. However, within SGs, the purpose of > constituencies appears to me to have been pushed as a thing for its own > sake, > perhaps with hidden motives such as attempting to weaken consensus or > majority dominance within some SGs. But the rationale and the expected > structure that should emerge within NCSG from the proposed multiple > constituencies is still unclear. Is it intended that any group with a > significant common factor should form separate constituencies, with > individual's and organisation's overlaps between constituencies allowing > for > our multiple facets? I am both an academic researching relevant issues and > a > registrant of a personal domain name, for example. > > Or are constituencies supposed to reflect differing types of SG member > where > those different groups share some specific common interest in elements of > the > domain name system? If it's the latter, I do not see an academics group > being > suitable, though as mentioned non-profit/public universities as bodies > might > wish to form their own group or join NPOC (if approved). > > > -- > Professor Andrew A Adams [log in to unmask] > Professor at Graduate School of Business Administration, and > Deputy Director of the Centre for Business Information Ethics > Meiji University, Tokyo, Japan http://www.a-cubed.info/ >