Duke Modifies iPod Giveaway Program

Incoming freshmen at Duke University need not expect a new iPod from the North Carolina private school this fall. The university has decided to scale back its pilot project that provided iPods to all incoming freshman, and now only certain courses will be given the popular music player.

Last year's offering cost the school $500,000. The purpose of the program, according to university officials, was to allow students to use them to record and playback lectures, as well as listen to language-training files.

Each freshman received a player engraved with the Duke University crest as well as the phrase "Class of 2008."

While the project is being scaled back, university officials said they were pleased with the results as it caused teachers and students "to consider new ways of using the technology in fields from engineering to foreign languages."

However, the faculty will be the deciding factor this year as to which students will receive the iPods.

Reaction from students has been mixed, with many claiming the program was a waste of money, as most already owned Apple's player. Students felt that more pressing issues, such as financial aid and campus security, should have been addressed first.

Aaron Dobbins contributed to this report.