Facebook Controversy

[ZACTAK]

Well, I am not sure if this is just a rumor going aroud my school or not, but supposedly here at SMS a group was created called "I like to drink in the dorms" or something to that effect. Anyways, a resident assistant got on FaceBook and found the group. S/He wrote down the names of all the individuals on that group and gave the list to a dean. The dean had all their rooms searched and found $400 worth of alcohol in their rooms.

It's a huge controvery now on whether the RA stepped over the boundaries or if they did it within their power.

 

[bliz]

Are students at SMS permitted to have alcohol in their dorms? If they are not, then the RA did what s/he is required to do as an RA.

 

[ZACTAK]

No, we are not allowed to have alcohol on campus. I think the RA stepped over the line and what he or she did is invasion of privacy... although I think it wasn't the smartest idea to create a group saying that.

 

[bliz]

Whose privacy was invaded?

The group put itself out there on the internet, which is VERY public. It doesn't matter is the RA went looking for the group or stumbled upon it. He or she has an obligation to act on information that comes to their attention regarding rule infractions.

The Dean, representing the univesity has the right to search dorm rooms, which are university property.

The university has the right to make whatever rules it wishes concerning behavior in its dorms and I'm sure all students were informed of the rules before they moved in.

 

[ZACTAK]

Whose privacy was invaded?

The group put itself out there on the internet, which is VERY public. It doesn't matter is the RA went looking for the group or stumbled upon it. He or she has an obligation to act on information that comes to their attention regarding rule infractions.

The Dean, representing the univesity has the right to search dorm rooms, which are university property.

The university has the right to make whatever rules it wishes concerning behavior in its dorms and I'm sure all students were informed of the rules before they moved in.

Facebook is a web site that you must sign up and obtain a password for, and so since you have to go through that it becomes a private web site, not a public site. The web site they obtained the information is not supported by SMS or involved with SMS in anyway. So by the RA seeing that information and telling a dean; the RA involved a third party in which it becomes an invasion of privacy.

The Dean representing the university does have a right to search dorm rooms, but he must have probable cause, or must search every dorm room...as that is the agreed upon contract. You can say the RA gave him probable cause, but they obtained the information beyond their call, and beyond the stretches of the law.

 

[bliz]

A "private" web site that anyone can gain access to? That site is no more private than this one is. I just went to the site and registered, and it has been a long time since I was a college student. Anyone who wishes to can view the information! As a general rule, one should not put anything on the web that you do not want on the front page of the local paper. Those students forgot that and paid for it.

Some colleges that used to turn a blind eye to things like booze in dorms are changing their ways. If a university declares that dorms are alcohol free, and does not take active measures to keep it so, the university is not living up to it's part of the contract with students and their parents.

As to the rules under which dorms can be searched, that's a matter for the school itself and such rules vary from college to college and the reality is that schools can change the rules pretty much as they wish. There are many colleges where no one will care if students drink in the dorms. These students obviously did not select their college carefully.

 

[EmSchmem]

If they were dumb enough to put themselves where anyone cuold find it they are dumb enough to get caught. It's not so private if this RA could sign up. Don't shift the blame to people who were already doing something wrong to the person who caught them.

 

[SOLDOUT4HIM]

Invasion of Privacy? No, consequences of ignorance? Definately. If you do not want something to be public, do not post in on the internet.

 

[ZACTAK]

A web site becomes PRIVATE when you must obtain a password to use it. And so, the RA had the right to see their profiles and everything, but once they took that information and gave it to the dean, they introduced a third a party into the mix, and THUS it becomes an invasion of privacy...and out of bounds for the RA to do his job.

I am not disagreeing that it wasn't smart for those individuals to create that, and I am not saying they didn't deserve to get caught, but they got caught in the wrong way.

 

[servant4ever]

what's the website address?

 

[ZACTAK]

http://www.thefacebook.com

And I was talking with an RA and they have a rule that was implemented starting this semester that they must announce to the individuals they plan to search their room before they show up to do so. So, it seems that there were some other rules broken in the search, and so they were out of line in what they did.

 

[bliz]

Bottom line: the students broke university rules. They got busted because they chose to advertise it on the internet.

 

[ZACTAK]

Bottom line: the students broke university rules. They got busted because they chose to advertise it on the internet.

It was stupid, but the university cannot breach contract or invade privacy to catch their stupidity

 

[smsgirl]

Ok, I wasn't sure if that was a real rumor or not, but I checked on facebook and I saw that they still have that group up and running. They were talking about how they got busted and they should still drink in their dorms and continue to break the rules. I think the whole thing is stupid! If they are stupid enough to post a group about drinking in their dorms then I think they should be caught. They are breaking their housing contract by keeping alcohol in their rooms in the first place. I'm suprised that they weren't kicked out of the dorms! But that's just my two cents. I guess I should explain if you didn't already guess that I go to SMSU, too.

 

[ZACTAK]

Ok, I wasn't sure if that was a real rumor or not, but I checked on facebook and I saw that they still have that group up and running. They were talking about how they got busted and they should still drink in their dorms and continue to break the rules. I think the whole thing is stupid! If they are stupid enough to post a group about drinking in their dorms then I think they should be caught. They are breaking their housing contract by keeping alcohol in their rooms in the first place. I'm suprised that they weren't kicked out of the dorms! But that's just my two cents. I guess I should explain if you didn't already guess that I go to SMSU, too.

yeah it was stupid of them, and I am not really sure if the busting part was a rumor or not... and they might be breaking the contract, but the school was as well.

 

[smsgirl]

I guess we will never find out if it is true unless we hear it from the source, but I am doubting that the school is going to say anything about it!! I think both parties were at fault to tell you the truth.

 

[ZACTAK]

I guess we will never find out if it is true unless we hear it from the source, but I am doubting that the school is going to say anything about it!! I think both parties were at fault to tell you the truth.

Yep, I agree with you completely!

 

[LaxItUp]

I'm sorry, but if people are going to be that stupid, then something really should be done. That's like robbing a bank or something without a disguise then going back to deposit the money in the same bank. I am familiar with the Facebook and if people are going to do something so ignorant as to flagrantly disregard rules and then publicly proclaim it, then heck, nail em. I don't think it is wrong or unethical for either the RA or the Dean to come down upon them.

 

[MsBlink]

I'm actually on the Facebook and there are rediculous clubs all over...but, like anything that is possibly a rumor, "don't believe the hype" until you get valid proof. Hope all goes well at your University...

~MsBlink

 

[ZACTAK]

Yeah they have definitely made some ridiculous groups.. some ex-girlfriends of my roommate's created a group called S.A.L.A.D. I won't say what it stands for, but it is definitely rude and derrogatory, and very immature. It is crazy the groups they allow people to create.