Is a thesis copyrighted?

Peter Hirtle at LibraryLaw Blog discusses the recent posting at RedState.com of Elana Kagen's thesis at Princeton University. In his post he discusses:

• Who owns the copyright?
• Is the work in the public domain?
• On what basis does Princeton make copies?
• On what grounds did Princeton ask that it be taken down?
• What is copyright and what is contract?
• FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974)*

Interesting reading.

*codifed at 20 USC 1232g; with regulations at 34 CFR 99.