Courtesy of facebook.comThe Facebook – that virtual community where the possibilities to connect with other students at college or maintain old friendships seem endless.
From showcasing a talented photographer’s pictures of student life, poking old friends to say hi or just looking at the profile of that cute boy someone saw in Mallinckrodt, users have many positive outlets with which to use their own accounts.
In fact, even professors can utilize these positive components to Facebook. Assistant Professor of Accounting Tzachi Zach embraces the ways that he, too, can look at the profiles.
“I look at people’s profiles to see their interests, what clubs to they belong to, do they like soccer, do they like music,” said Zach. “It’s to gauge students’ interests outside the classroom.”
Zach further commented on the many social connections he has made between former students and current ones through the social networking features, as well as the ease of staying up-to-date on the new lives of these former students. The advantages of the Facebook seem limitless.
Yet, even with the ease of this relatively new program, started in 2004 by Harvard graduates, there are bound to be problems when technology moves faster than the rules. The fact that the Facebook seems so centered on the students is deceiving. Most students don’t realize how many people actually have a “.edu” address – the only requirement to have a Facebook account. Rob Wild, Associate Director of Residential Life, worries that students do not realize the possible harm that Facebook can cause.
“I think students just need to be careful, because it is such a public venue,” said Wild. “I can’t emphasize this enough. I think students feel like Facebook is somewhat anonymous and I worry about what people put up there. People in the University, like myself, have access to it, so you have to be prepared for a lot of eyes to see it.”
Wild’s fears about Facebook have been confirmed at other universities around the country. According to the Daily Pennsylvanian, an independent newspaper of the University of Pennsylvania, freshman student elections were delayed in the fall of 2005 due to unauthorized information posted on candidates’ Facebook sites before the proper date. The independent newspaper of the University of New Mexico, The Daily Lobo, reported on events in October 2005 when administrators banned access to the site due to the large amounts of e-mail it produced, which slowed down the school’s server. At Kansas State University, administrators used the Facebook in November 2005 to investigate an honor code violation dealing with message boards about class content, according to the Kansas State Collegian.
Wash. U. currently doesn’t have a specific policy regarding the Facebook, but Residential Life has started to incorporate the site into their work. The Facebook offers another forum in which to learn about events on campus, some of which may violate Residential Life rules.
“If you are publicizing an event in a Residential Life space that looks like it’s going to be a violation of ResLife policy.that individual is going to hear from our staff,” said Wild. “We will address it with those people if it looks like it could be potentially problematic.”
In addition to learning about events, Wild also uses the Facebook when meeting with students over worries of behavioral problems.
“If you are involved in something that causes the University some concern about your behavior and we see something on Facebook,” said Wild, “even though it’s not part of the University computer system, that is still something we will talk to a student about.”
Often, students’ Facebook profiles are not necessarily a positive portrayal of their personalities. Many faculty members, such as Liggett/Koenig Residential College Director Mary Elliott, hold concerns about the way their students are advertising themselves.
“For me, your Facebook image is part of your reputation,” said Elliott. “Yet students really let themselves all hang out. I worry about it, because I think it can send a negative image of what students are and what students are about. I have so many amazing students, but sometimes I’ll look at their Facebook profiles and think, ‘There has to be more to you than that.'”
“Your profile isn’t a complete mirror of who you are,” added Wild, “and you can make assumptions about people based on their pictures or their groups. People misinterpret things.”
These types of assumptions can have severe ramifications now that more and more employers are telling applicants that they do consult applicant’s Facebook profiles as a component of their decision.
Director of Student Activities Julie Thornton recently had a student ask her to judge the decency level of his profile, trying to see what a future employer might see. Thornton analyzed the different parts and tried to help the student adjust certain areas.
“I don’t know what changes, if any, he made; the stuff that was on there wasn’t terribly incriminating,” said Thornton. “But we had that conversation about what potentially it could do, if [future employers] knew certain attitudes and lifestyle choices.”
Another place in which Facebook profiles will be consulted is in the competitive Resident Advisor application process. Similar to Elliott’s view of Facebook as one’s public image, Wild advises applicants to ponder the appropriateness level of the profile.
“I think as an RA candidate, I would be careful what I have up on Facebook,” said Wild. “If there is something up there that gives an impression of you, that’s public knowledge.”
Wash. U. will continue to monitor Facebook and regulations and other programs may continue to change in coming years. According to The New York Times, Tufts University and Texas Christian University have started to offer seminars regarding the Facebook, and Wash. U. is following this trend by looking to include Facebook tips in the materials for new students at Orientation. Elliott sees further changes in the next few years.
“I can see it getting cracked down on in universities,” said Elliott. “I think it’s really easy for people to throw out what their opinion is, and you’ll see more legal sanctions at other schools.”
Elliott added, though, that Wash. U.’s policy has always centered on the First Amendment and she does not see that stance changing.
“We may not like what our students do or say, but we stand apart of that. We believe in it and it is part of our value system,” said Elliott. “I can see that because it’s part of your culture it’s going to become more a part of ours.”