As college students, we're naturally rebellious and don't stand for anyone telling us what to do. The recent situation of a dental student being punished for comments on his personal Weblog proved this description to be true as an outraged Marquette community reacted with shock and disbelief.
Yet, the reality is that Web sites like the Facebook, MySpace, and Webshots are currently fair game for university and employer scrutiny.
For example, a student at Fisher College in Boston was expelled for comments about a campus police officer that he posted on the Facebook. Other universities have been using the site to find students breaking the college's handbook rules. Marquette itself faced another controversial situation last fall when compromising photos of the lacrosse team were found posted on Webshots.
The list of examples can go on, along with a strongly worded and controversial debate over free speech suppression. However, here's the thing that gets me: how stupid and irresponsible people are being. Freedom of speech comes with personal responsibility. In many ways I feel that the authoritative actions that many schools have take are unjust; however, students must think twice about what they're posting.
I admit I have my own Facebook profile. It's great for keeping in touch and finding long-lost high school friends. However, I never understood why anyone would post private information like their phone number or address. Not to mention join groups or post comments that others may find offensive or negatively represent themselves.
That's the whole point. Everything you post represents you. Sure Weblogs and wall messages can be controversial and funny, but at the same time can walk a thin line to inappropriate. A rant or venting session online could poorly reflect someone else's image along with your own. When you post anything you're displaying it for potentially the entire world – or at least school – to see. How do you want people to perceive you?
I don't post anything I wouldn't be comfortable with anyone, from my parents to potential employers, viewing. If I publicly wrote inappropriate and crude comments about students and teachers, I wouldn't be proud of demonstrating that embarrassing level of immaturity. Also, if I took pictures of a night out I might post a few images. However, if a few were a little crazy and my guy friends were wearing thongs I might hang on to the images to use as future blackmail (just kidding of course), but I would not share them with all of cyberspace.
We complain about free speech being taken away, but we are giving away our privacy without a second thought.
I'm not bowing to the administration or running scared that something I might post will get me more then a slap on the wrist. I'm being realistic. These posts reflect you, and you never know who is looking at them.
We can't just point at the administration and scream foul play without also examining and owning up to our own personal responsibility.
