Download - What About Facebook?

Krista MeekJen PageTyree Pollard

Introduction

A case study is a way of presenting a problem or situation that requires an analysis and prescription of what is to be done about it. It is designed to be vague, such as with many situations encountered in the workforce. A case study is also supposed to be acknowledged from the decision-makers point-of-view. The evaluation of the case study will bring to light the issues presented, strategies for handling the situation, as well as policy recommendations.

The case study evaluated here is titled "Is Information on Facebook Fair Game?" and is a result of the work of Brittney Black. This case was used in the 2006 OCPA annual conference's Dr. Robert A. Dubick Case Study Competition.

Description of EnvironmentThe case takes place at Montgomery

College, a public, fictional institution in Southern Ohio. Montgomery College is located in a rural area and located at least one half hour from any city. The institution is described as being mid-sized with approximately 15,000 students, mostly of traditional age (19-22 years) and of which 40% live on campus in residence halls.

Characters and Situational DetailsIn previous years, the enrollment of on-campus

students has grown tremendously and led to the construction of several more residence halls. Courtney is a sophomore student and resident advisor in a First Year Experience residence hall. She is a biology major with a 3.7 gpa, involved in several campus organizations, and has recently applied to be an orientation coordinator with strong recommendation from hall director Christy.

Characters and Situational DetailsChristy forms close relationships with your

staff members, but typically goes about things "by the book" and feels that every situation is qualified to be a learning experience. Christy enjoys seeing the students she works with advance, and takes pride in only recommending those students she believes will reflect well upon her, specifically because she values her reputation and her relationships with colleagues. As the hall director, Christy is Jack's direct supervisor.

Characters and Situational DetailsJack is a graduate assistant who works

specifically with the First Year Experience program. He enjoys building strong relationships with his staff members, but values the boundaries he sets between himself and his students. Like Christy, he believes in the opportunity to foster learning experiences in every situation. He often enforces portions of rules to create these learning experiences, but is also very concerned with how he is viewed by supervisors, as well as with receiving praise.

Characters and Situational DetailsOther characters include Joseph, the

Director of Orientation with whom Courtney has applied to be an orientation coordinator, and the Vice President of Student Affairs. Joseph is a new staff member and has worked diligently to foster relationships with other departments since his arrival and has done so in the manner of requesting recommendations for staff members. The VPSA is often consulted in student misconduct and is involved in determining an action plan in unprecedented situations.

What Happened: The Case

Montgomery College joined the Facebook circle and has become quite a popular site among students over the past year. Jack, the graduate assistant, has been reluctant to join the ring in anticipation that it may hinder his professional progression or break down the boundaries he has worked hard to put in place.

However, after discussing the situation with his supervisor, Christy, he decides to investigate the social network further.

What Happened: The Case

Within minutes Jack stumbles upon Courtney's Facebook page and finds several issues for a staff member to have posted in such a public manner. Courtney has photos posted to her page that include drinking with residents in halls where alcohol is prohibited, not to mention that she and her residents are underage. Additionally, images of scantily clad students, drug paraphernalia, inappropriate wall posts, and intense access to personal information such as address and phone number are easily accessed.

Jack consults Christy about the situation, showing her what he has accessed. The two begin to discuss the numerous issues with the page and various courses of action.

What is Facebook?

“Facebook is a social utility that connects people with friends and others who work, study and live around them. People use Facebook to keep up with friends, upload an unlimited number of photos, share links and videos, and learn more about the people they meet.”

Why do students use Facebook? Students can keep in touch with high

school friends all over the country. If a student knows someone’s name,

but nothing else it is still possible to get in contact with them through Facebook.

Profiles allow for self-expression Events can be advertised to all students

or just friends. Students can search for students in

their classes for assistance.

Risks of Facebook

Harassment including Sexual Assault Stalking Identity Theft or Personal Theft Negative/Illegal information about

student’s personal lives Other legal issues which may infringe

on the rights of others. Unhealthy relationships developed Fights occur as a result of activity on

Facebook

Similar Facebook Cases and Solution

Pictures from Facebook were used to cite violators of university alcohol policy at North Carolina State University. Charges included underage drinking and violations of the dormitory alcohol policy, specifically holding open bottles of alcoholic beverages in the dorm hallway.

At Western Washington University, four students were placed on probation and one was asked to leave the housing system based on alcohol violations that were documented and discovered through Facebook

Two weeks ago, a resident assistant at John Carroll University was asked to resign after similar pictures were discovered on her Facebook profile. When she refused, the university terminated her employment.

The most recent incident was caused by an album of a party at a campus fraternity and has been used to bring proceedings against the fraternity for alcohol violations, as well as against

individuals who appear in pictures of that party.

The Issues

Courtney who is an RA, has be involved in underage drinking with peers in Res Halls, scantily clothed students, and illegal drug paraphernalia all on her Facebook page.

Christy just wrote a strong letter of recommadation for Courtney for an Orienataion Job.

Proposed Resolution

Courtney is relieved of her RA position for one year

Placed on one year probation Christy will withdraw Courtney’s letter of

recommendation and she no longer be a candidate for that position

Also Courtney will be serve on a committee for a (FYE) Facebook Orientation.

After one year Courtney will be reevaluated and if successful will be permitted to be an RA again.

Addressing the Issue

Christy, Jack and Joseph go to the VP of Student Affairs and discuss there proposed resolution for Courtney.

They also address that this Facebook issue is serious and plan to form a committee for a (FYE) Facebook Orientation to help students become more aware of how to use Facebook

Logistics and Legalities

Facebook has become a blessing and a curse in the world of residence life. On one hand, we have a new, faster way, to communicate with residents and student leaders. On the other side of things, it is far too easy to find out “way too much” about these very same people.


As a whole, laws have not been able to keep up with the world of changing technology, and RAs need to know that they can be held responsible for, and face employment consequences as a response to Facebook and other internet postings. Here is what every RA, or student leader should know:


Your supervisor is allowed to check your Facebook any time they feel it would be appropriate to so do not post anything that would cause your supervisor to question your professionalism.

If you post a picture of yourself consuming alcohol, make sure that you are of age, and it would not be a good idea to be in that picture with the residents that you supervise.

If you are underage and a picture of you consuming alcohol is posted, it could ultimately lead to your termination from that position.

No matter your age, it is not a good idea to post pictures of you drinking in your own room, to have an excessive number of pictures of you drinking.


As a Role Model in your community, your residents will see your Facebook. If you have any postings that could be considered a policy violation, these residents will not respect you or take you seriously.

Again, any policy violation could ultimately result in termination from the position, but most likely if it a minor violation, it will result in probation and your supervisor having a conversation and advising you to take down that posting.


You are responsible for EVERYTHING on your Facebook. You are still responsible for any pictures your friends tag of you or any posting your friends post on your wall so if there are things on your Facebook that your residents and your supervisor should not see, you need to delete it, untag it and remind your friends that it is inappropriate to post those things.

These situations would most likely result in a verbal conversation from the supervisor asking why the postings were put up by your friends, and reminding you that you are responsible for any posting on your page.


You must not openly disagree with university policies. As a university employee, and as someone who in many ways is responsible for enforcing university policies, you can not use the internet as a way to campaign against university policies. You should have those discussions with your supervisor verbally and privately.

In the situation where I have an RA who is posting on Facebook about their disagreement with university policies, I would have a conversation with that staff member about the policy itself and the reasons behind the policy and explain why staff members need to present a supportive front when it comes to policy issues.


You are responsible for anything that you see on Facebook. If you are friends with a resident, and a resident posts disturbing or threatening posts, it is your responsibility to report those posts to your supervisor and if possible, have a conversation with that resident if it is safe to.

Of course it is not possible to monitor every post of every resident, but in the cases where an RA does see something questionable, “duty to care” laws would dictate that those things that are seen must be reported and handled appropriately. The university would not be responsible for knowing ever post on every students’ Facebook, but if some tragic event happened and it was known about but not reported, that puts liability back onto the university in many cases.


As the leader of your community it is your job to set boundaries. If you choose to be “friends” with your residents on Facebook, you are still responsible for acting professionally in any online interaction with your “friends” on Facebook.

Watch the language you use and the subject matter of your online interactions. For example, sending messages and posts out about floor meetings or your next social activity as a floor is a great use of Facebook, but discussing how “wasted” you were last night and how everyone is too loud, that is entirely inappropriate.

Posting pictures of your community activities, or making up online contests for your residents are also a fantastic way to connect, but be very careful about what captions or comments are added to pictures and how your residents are using these pictures.


Everything posted online anywhere, not just Facebook, can be reconstructed up to seven years after the post is deleted. Be careful what you put in writing or what images you post of yourself. Be wary of putting too much information of your residents’ out there on Facebook. Get consent before posting pictures of your residents.


In the professional world, I have personally known of situations where Facebook postings have either been the reason a student is not hired for a position or the reason that the student is terminated from a position. In general, be overly cautious and think of Facebook as not a personal diary or personal diagram of your personality, but think of Facebook as your most effective or detrimental marketing tool that you have for yourself. You are always in control.

References

Aftab, Parry.(2004). Blog Sites, Profile Sites, Diary Sites or Social-

Networking Sites. Campus Safety Magazine.com. Retrieved

October 4, 2007 from

http://www.wiredsafety.org/internet101/blogs.html

Facebook.com. Retrieved April 15, 2009, from

www.thefacebook.com.

Download - What About Facebook?

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