According to an article in The Chronicle of Higher Education, students at universities across the country have faced punishment from their respective institutions for offenses ranging from the misuse of firearms to possession and consumption of alcohol ““ all based on evidence they willingly affiliated themselves with or posted themselves on such Web sites.
While the process of reprimanding students who misbehave in the aforementioned ways is one with which universities are well-accustomed, the relatively recent phenomenon of students documenting and publicizing their mischief online is one for which a precedent of retribution has not yet been established.
Until such a standard is set, it is nothing less than the prerogative of universities and like institutions to discipline students whom they find to be in the wrong.
Though the ultimate consequences of these offenses in the realm of university disciplinary action are currently being challenged in court and are yet to be determined, cases of criminal prosecution by law enforcement officials stand in an entirely different sphere of control.
The reality is that law enforcement will likely continue to use social networking sites for investigations.
Furthermore, because sites such as Facebook and MySpace are technically public domain, any text or photographs posted there become the property of said Web sites. They can also be used by law enforcement officials as incriminating evidence to be used in court against those accused of wrongdoing.
While it seems, from a legal standpoint, that there is nothing wrong with universities punishing students who misbehave ““ even if the only existing proof of misbehavior is found online ““ universities should be reasonable about the ways they pursue student offenders.
Though it is understandable that university officials wish to protect the reputation of their respective institutions, many issues exist with the active monitoring of online sites and the absence of established rules governing the ways universities choose to employ such investigations.
It goes without saying that it is the responsibility of students to behave appropriately and, even when breaking rules, minimize the extent to which their actions are documented in public forums such as these sites.
As most students are aware, privacy settings on sites like these exist to protect their personal ““ though still publicly available ““ information. Actively limiting the amount of incriminating evidence that is available for public spectacle online is an advisable course of action for students.
Above all else, until universities decide on a regular set of procedures and consequences for students incriminated by these sites, all parties involved should consider the potential for the offenses to be taken too seriously and should remain sensitive to this potential once a precedent for such punishment is established.
Unsigned editorials represent a majority opinion of the Daily Bruin Editorial Board.