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Facebook group warns against posting incriminating photos
Students are urged to "tag" with caution
Maggie Luckadoo
Issue date: 11/29/06 Section: News
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A new Facebook group, entitled "Your University is watching you - Beware" warns members of the possibility that administrators may be viewing student's Facebook profiles.
"Your university may be snooping around on Facebook to get you in to trouble and press charges against you -- so beware," writes Ryan Duckwitz, a student at George Mason University and creator of the group.
According to Lizzy Adams, a junior in communication and a resident advisor in Tucker Residence Hall, this is not the case as far as RAs are concerned.
"They tell us if we see suggestive photos we are supposed to report it," she said. "We don't go around specifically looking for them."
Charges were brought against 15 Alexander Hall residents in October of last year based on photos posted on Facebook.com.
An RA in Alexander reported the students after viewing pictures of them consuming alcohol in the residence hall.
"She did what we would expect any staff member to do -- bring this to the attention of her supervisor," director of the Office of Student Conduct, Paul Cousins, said.
Adams pointed out that new policies give anyone with an email address the opportunity to obtain a Facebook account. She said this allows businesses, parents and administrators to access student's profiles.
"Be wary of what exactly you put up there," she said.
Liz Bond, a freshman in textiles, said she recently encountered a potential employer using Facebook as a tool for evaluation.
"I applied for a summer job. The next day, I had a friend request from someone I didn't know," she said. "When I looked at their profile, I saw that they were affiliated with the organization I had applied to work for. I had already signed a release for them to do a background check, but I assume they were also checking my Facebook."
Justin Nuzum, a freshman in business management, said he is cautious when "tagging" pictures of himself and others on the Internet.
"Your university may be snooping around on Facebook to get you in to trouble and press charges against you -- so beware," writes Ryan Duckwitz, a student at George Mason University and creator of the group.
According to Lizzy Adams, a junior in communication and a resident advisor in Tucker Residence Hall, this is not the case as far as RAs are concerned.
"They tell us if we see suggestive photos we are supposed to report it," she said. "We don't go around specifically looking for them."
Charges were brought against 15 Alexander Hall residents in October of last year based on photos posted on Facebook.com.
An RA in Alexander reported the students after viewing pictures of them consuming alcohol in the residence hall.
"She did what we would expect any staff member to do -- bring this to the attention of her supervisor," director of the Office of Student Conduct, Paul Cousins, said.
Adams pointed out that new policies give anyone with an email address the opportunity to obtain a Facebook account. She said this allows businesses, parents and administrators to access student's profiles.
"Be wary of what exactly you put up there," she said.
Liz Bond, a freshman in textiles, said she recently encountered a potential employer using Facebook as a tool for evaluation.
"I applied for a summer job. The next day, I had a friend request from someone I didn't know," she said. "When I looked at their profile, I saw that they were affiliated with the organization I had applied to work for. I had already signed a release for them to do a background check, but I assume they were also checking my Facebook."
Justin Nuzum, a freshman in business management, said he is cautious when "tagging" pictures of himself and others on the Internet.
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