Diversity College

1
Diversity College
Online Issues Affecting Students

• Jasmine H. Buxton
• Jasmine P. Clay
• Lauren A. Teso
• Indiana State University

2
Task Force Members

• 2 professional Residence Life staff members
• Assistant Director of Information Technology
• Campus Police Officer
• 2 student Orientation Leaders

3
Task Force Objectives

• Develop and Implement a session on online issues
  to present during new student orientation
• Identify topics for an online Facebook.com
  tutorial for students to complete before
  accessing the schools computers
• Present mock-up to the Dean of Student Life and
  all Directors within the Student Life Division

4
Whats facebook.com

• Facebook is an online directory that connects
  people through social networks at schools.
• Launch date Wednesday, February 4, 2004
• Retrieved from http//www.facebook.com/about.php

5
Facebook.com Overview

• Available at more than 2,600 schools nationwide
• 9.4 million users nationwide
• Must have a valid school email address to
  register
• Users can post a variety of information on their
  pages from cell phone numbers, home and school
  addresses, class schedule, etc on their page
• Ability to join interest groups
• Post messages on the walls of others

6
Why use Facebook.com

• Stay connected with friends at other schools
• Connect with members from other schools
• Send messages to other members
• Form safe interest groups on lifestyle or
  concerns
• Post and look at pictures
• Everyone else is on it
• Attention/Popularity

7
Regulations

• Do not harm or intimate others
• Presenting obscene material is prohibited
• No misrepresentation of self
• Use of another persons account to access the
  system without permission is prohibited

8
Issues Associated with Facebook

• Harassment
• Stalking
• Unwanted attention
• University personnel/Campus Police have access to
  the site
• Appropriateness of pictures and comments

9
Sexual Harassment

• Sexual harassment is any conduct, physical or
  verbal, that is sexual in nature and which has
  the effect of unreasonably interfering with an
  individuals or groups educational or work
  performance or which creates an intimidating,
  hostile, or abusive educational or work
  environment.

10
According to Facebook
You are solely responsible for our interactions
with other Facebook Members. Despite rules,
sexually explicit pictures and other offensive
material still exist.
11
Information Technology

• The Office of Information Technology at Diversity
  College strives to provide adequate and
  innovative technology to all on-campus users.
• In the Student Handbook, which each first year
  student receives, Section VII states all
  on-campus computing policies.

12
Freedom of Expression

• Diversity College respects all students freedom
  of expression however, if at anytime freedom of
  expression endangers another student either
  physically or verbally, Diversity College will
  take action if deemed necessary.
• Freedom of expression includes but is not limited
  to interaction through personal interaction,
  flyers and online services.

13
Purpose of Online Tutorial

• Ensure student understanding of computing
  policies
• Ensure student understanding of consequences
  associated with violating policies
• Address recent issues on campus and attempt to
  help avoid these problems in the future

14
Tutorial Content

• Student and Staff Input
• Visited website to obtain a better understanding
• Address major issues associated with the site
• Address common misconceptions of similar on-line
  sites

15
Email Issues

• Students gain access to facebook.com through
  their school e-mail account.
• Students must first remember that school e-mail
  accounts are a privilege, not a right.

16
Sample Questions

• How does campus policy define sexual harassment?
• A. Any physical advance that is sexual in nature
• B. Any conduct physical or verbal that is sexual
  in nature
• C. The act of physically violating another
  person

17
Sample Questions

• What is one way the Office of Information
  Technology warns students to protect themselves
  against harassment?
• A. Not providing too much personal information on
  public profiles
• B. Not talking to anyone they dont know online
• C. Not posting any information about themselves

18
Sample Questions

• Facebook.com messages can be seen as harassment
  if the context is reason to support the
  accusation.
• A. True
• B. False

19
Tutorial Questions

• Other tutorial questions will address
• stalking
• appropriateness of pictures
• using other members accounts without permission
• freedom of speech and expression

20
Measuring Success

• Monitoring group membership on sites
• Monitoring complaints/issues associated with the
  websites
• Providing incentives for student survey
  participation, every semester
• Creative programming on online issues

21
Faculty/Staff Issues

• Be cautious of the content on students pages in
  which they are associated
• Be cautious with the information they put on
  their pages
• Remember that you are a role-model
• Beware of the image that you are portraying to
  your students

22
What the committee learned

• Students share a lot of valuable information on
  the internet
• Students may not aware of the consequences of
  their actions
• Despite warnings, inappropriate information will
  be posted
• It is our responsibility as educator outside the
  classroom to help student understand the changing
  world

23
References

• http//dawgnetnews.com/archive/060129/3462.html
• http//www.villanovan.com/media/paper581/news/2005
  /11/18/verge/facing.the.facts.about.facebook-11087
  85.shtml?norewritesourcedomainwww.villanovan.com
  
• http//facebook.com
• http//chimprawk.blogspot.com/2006/01/student-life
  -on-facebook.html
• http//www.indstate.edu/humres/affactdiversity/doc
  uments/ISUPolicy5B15D.sexHarass.doc