diff --git a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
--- a/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/users_controller.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 class UsersController < ApplicationController
 
-  before_filter :authenticate
+  before_filter :authenticate, :except => [:new, :register]
 
   verify :method => :post, :only => [:chg_passwd],
          :redirect_to => { :action => :index }
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@
   in_place_edit_for :user, :email_for_editing
 
   def index
-    # uncomment below to disable settings
-    #redirect_to :controller => 'main', :action => 'list'
-
-    @user = User.find(session[:user_id])
+    if !Configuration['system.user_setting_enabled']
+      redirect_to :controller => 'main', :action => 'list'
+    else
+      @user = User.find(session[:user_id])
+    end
   end
 
   def chg_passwd
diff --git a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
--- a/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
+++ b/app/helpers/application_helper.rb
@@ -30,7 +30,10 @@
       append_to menu_items, '[Test]', 'test', 'index'
     end
     append_to menu_items, '[Help]', 'main', 'help'
-    append_to menu_items, '[Settings]', 'users', 'index'
+
+    if Configuration['system.user_setting_enabled']
+      append_to menu_items, '[Settings]', 'users', 'index'
+    end
     append_to menu_items, '[Log out]', 'main', 'login'
 
     menu_items
diff --git a/db/migrate/20081204081043_add_more_options_to_configurations.rb b/db/migrate/20081204081043_add_more_options_to_configurations.rb
--- a/db/migrate/20081204081043_add_more_options_to_configurations.rb
+++ b/db/migrate/20081204081043_add_more_options_to_configurations.rb
@@ -14,10 +14,18 @@
     Configuration.create(:key => 'system.online_registration',
                          :value_type => 'boolean',
                          :value => 'false')
+
+    # If Configuration['system.user_setting_enabled'] is true,
+    #   users can change their settings
+
+    Configuration.create(:key => 'system.user_setting_enabled',
+                         :value_type => 'boolean',
+                         :value => 'true')
   end
 
   def self.down
     Configuration.find_by_key('contest.multisites').destroy
     Configuration.find_by_key('system.online_registration').destroy
+    Configuration.find_by_key('system.user_setting_enabled').destroy
   end
 end