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Show I . 1 iI I i I Tuesday, September 19, 200$ yes, we will do something. Other institutions, however, have taken much more rigid positions on the social networking craze. Some private high schools across the nation have forbidden students to register for Facebook with addresses. At Saint Jotheir school-issue- d sephs College in Indiana and also at Northern Kentucky University, there were several student leaders who were removed from their positions due to photos on their Facebook accounts. These photos showed students drinking in a dorm on campus which went against the schools dry campus policies. But the ramifications of social networking Web sites can extend beyond college life. Some employers are using Facebook and MySpace to find out more about potential interns or employees. While it hasnt happened at Westminster, there are various schools throughout the nation where students are getting paid by companies to print off a fellow students profile for the employer to see. ail Ultimately, Facebook is not a tool usedfor investigation in this office. - Cullen Green, director of residence life climbing wall coordinator While, in light of online predators, having your profile blocked from strangers has always been considered a form of caution, it is now sometimes considered a sign that you may have something to hide from potential employers. I do know for a fact that employers and schools can look at both your MySpace and Facebook profiles, commented junior Kelly Sabey. I just decided to not put any pictures up on Facebook, and only allow R.A.s and administrators and other school sponsored profiles to look at my limited profile. Joiner addressed issues about Facebook and MySpace at this years first year student orientation. We wanted to educate them about the hazards and benefits of these sites, she explained. We wanted them to be aware of privacy limitations, say we arent for or against these sites and tell them that it isnt our policy to patrol their profiles. She advised against disclosing specifics like hall names, room numbers, and cell phone numbers on MySpace and Facebook accounts. U Social networking Web sites arent all bad they can be a great way for students to stay connected. I use Facebook to keep in touch with a lot of my friends from out of state who I dont get to see a lot, said Annie Wilson, a sophomore. Its cool to be able to see whats going on in their lives. Junior Carlo Melini agrees. I use MySpace and Facebook to keep in touch with friends, he said. However, the wide array of risks associated with these sites shouldnt be taken lightly. After all, as Green said, there have been lawsuits over material posted on online profiles. The Student Life Office created a pamphlet to inform Westminster students about such dangers. While the Office of Student Life does not actively patrol students online profiles, we would like for you to be aware that there may be other people who are, the pamphlet reads. While close friends may know youre joking about something youve posted, another student, staff member, or faculty member who stumbles across your profile may only have that information to gauge who you are. Since the popularity of social networking sites continues to grow, there isnt an option to ignore its presence. Still, students should keep in mind the Face-boo- k repercussions that may occur from profiles on and MySpace. Put things on social networking sites that you would tell to anyone, Joiner said, because you dont know who is actually looking. Westminster and MySpace Current Students B Alumni According to MySpace, as of Sept. 18, 2006, of the 1,674 students registered with Westminster College on MySpace, 1,037 of them are current students, while 637 are alumni. Facebook Members MySpace Members Westminster College was added to Facebook last year. About 520 current Westminster students are part of this networking Web site. Even though the Student Life Office isnt spending its time looking for student illegal activities on the weekend, it doesnt mean you dont run the risk of getting caught for doing something wrong. Westminster College may be the only wet campus in Utah, but it is a national law that it is illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to drink. If caught for substance abuse on the Westminster campus, there will be repercussions. Consequences for getting caught drinking underage on the Westminster campus: All instances will have a hearing with the student life department, where the punishment will be decided. basis. They will try to give the punishment that they beEach punishment is done on a lieve will be the most educational one for the student. case-by-ca- se If it is your third or fourth offense or you required medical transport, you will have a more serious punishment of being put on disciplinary probation. Disciplinary probation: Your record becomes open. If anyone, such as an employer, internship employer, or graduate school calls to find out information about you, the school will be able to give it to them. Otherwise, the punishment could include, but isnt limited to, things such as phone calls with you, your parentsguardians and Mark Feme, mandatory peer mentor classes, community service, or doing rounds with the RAs. |