University has used Web site images to discipline students

At Southeast Missouri State University, administrators want students to know the Web isn't as private as they might think.

Last year the university's Judicial Affairs Office, an administrative body responsible for academic discipline on campus, began the use of photos posted on the Web site Facebook to take disciplinary action against students. Facebook is a Web site designed to help college students network.

The site is owned by a private company and has no affiliation with the university. However, some students have found out the hard way that the items posted on Facebook, such as photos and party announcements, aren't private at all.

Disciplinary action has been taken against some students for having photographs of themselves in incriminating positions, such as possessing alcohol or drugs on campus, and for postings that slander others.

Trae Mitten, head of judicial affairs, said his unit doesn't troll around Facebook looking for violations, but if judicial receives a complaint or a tip about such postings, they will try to find the evidence on Facebook and take action.

"Not only does Facebook itself say that it's a public Web site, but the university has made an announcement to students that it's a public Web site, so if you're putting information on there, you better realize that other people can see it," Mitten said.

Mitten said police couldn't use Facebook photos as proof of possession of alcohol, but the university can.

Southeast Student Government president Adam Hanna said the university isn't acting illegally or unethically in its use of Facebook, but that the best solution would have warned students before the university used the Web site to discipline students.

Southeast freshman Zach Casey calls the use of Facebook an invasion of privacy.

"This is a forum for students, and the authorities shouldn't get involved," said Casey. He said students should know better than to post incriminating photos on the Web site, and that many students he's talked to are split in their opinions on the matter.

"I know that I personally see it as a Big Brother thing," Casey said. "But a lot of people who drink think it's a bad idea, and a lot of people who don't drink think it's a good idea."

While the Judicial Affairs Office uses Facebook to investigate complaints or tips, university police officer Creighton Gould uses it to look for parties.

Much of Gould's job involves scanning postings for drinking parties on Web sites, then sending e-mail messages to students warning them they might be in violation of underage drinking laws or selling alcohol without a license.

But authorities say their eyes aren't the only ones students should worry about -- information posted on public Web sites like Facebook can be used by private citizens for even more sinister purposes.

The university is warning students not to post personal information like addresses and schedules, which can be used by stalkers. No stalking incidents related to the Web site have occurred at the university yet, and the authorities hope to keep it that way.