TLU freshman Amandine Miller of New Braunfels relaxes in the Alumni Student Center between classes. She says that social networking sites are a good way to keep up with friends on other college campuses.

 

THINGS ARE DIFFERENT ON CAMPUS TODAY.

OH, STUDENTS STILL GO TO CLASS. THEY STUDY AND WRITE PAPERS. THEY COMPLAIN ABOUT THE FOOD AND PARKING. CHAPEL IS STILL AT 10 A.M. ON MWF, AND STUDENTS STILL SOMETIMES SLEEP THROUGH THEIR 8 O’CLOCK CLASSES. BUT TODAY THEY COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY. AND THAT’S REALITY.
 
 
 
It’s called social networking. Students use online communities like Facebook and MySpace as a link to their friends, schedules, and daily lives. Some TLU students check these sites 8-10 times a day – maybe more. It is how they keep in touch with friends, know when a group is meeting, or know what other students are saying or up to. It is a way to know when to meet for dinner, who’s dating, or where the party is happening.

A site usually includes a profile and pictures posted by the owner or others who have tagged the site by posting photos on it. And there is also wallpaper where visitors to the site communicate and write thoughts and comments – good or bad, true or false – sort of a dialogue that is open to anyone else visiting the site.

Until recently, Facebook has been limited. It was created two years ago to give college students an environment where they could share information, but also have control over who they shared information with. A college e-mail address was needed to set up a page initially.

Facebook has expanded to allow others into the site – at first those invited in as friends – and then the site grew to allow high school students and businesses groups in as well. There are still controls, but it also means that the number of potential viewers of a student’s page is larger.

Facebook and social sites like it are a reality throughout society today, and it is no different on Texas Lutheran’s campus.

Dean of Student Life and Learning Kristi Quiros ’85 says that Facebook is a hot button issue everywhere. She explains that it has both positive and negative aspects. “It is a great way for students to connect with those who have similar interests or to keep up with friends who are at other schools. But sometimes there seems to be a disconnect with students when they put information on sites such as Facebook. They don’t think about it being available worldwide.”

This year, for the first time, TLU’s new student orientation included information about social networking sites – things to remember like safety and access. “We remind students that employers check out applicants for jobs or internships, so they should consider how they are portraying themselves,” Quiros says. “I tell students to ask themselves if they would want their grandmother to see this.”

Social networking starts well before college. Quiros says that there are freshmen who come to school and they’ve already chatted online with everyone on their floor – they have a head start on meeting people. But there are also those who are not happy with what they’ve found when they Googled their future roommate or looked him or her up on Facebook or MySpace. She says they don’t realize that what they read or see may not be true.

“Before they get to know someone, before they even e-mail, much less call or talk to someone face-to-face, they are judging an individual by his or her profile and deciding they want to change roommates. However, I try to remind them that getting to know people who are different than you is an important part of the college experience.”

Quiros says that residence life asks students to wait until they arrive on campus and meet each other personally before requesting a roommate change. If changes do occur, it is usually after fall semester when students may change to be with a new friend rather than avoid someone based on an online profile.

Although it isn’t the official or only means to communicate with students, more and more professors and organizations are using Facebook to reach students.

Dr. Phil Ruge-Jones, associate professor of theology, says that his site is a small way to let his students know he cares about the things that they do. It is also another way to connect with students less formally and have some fun with the students. For example, he says he posted a picture of himself in his uncool, Napoleon Dynamite high school graduation suit.

Forty-nine TLU groups (and growing daily,) from the Betas to the Student Government Association to the Catholic Student Organization, all have Facebook members and communicate everything from elections to pizza parties and meetings on the site. Others, including the “Wal-Mart – The Most Exciting Place in Seguin” group and “I Swim to Class When It Rains,” may just want a place to complain.

Quiros explained that TLU administrators do not prowl the Internet as some schools have tried, but do follow up on any complaints. She explained that social networking sites can have negative aspects, including cyber bullying, where a student is sent hateful, harassing or threatening mail. These instances, although rare, do happen.

“Social networking is a reality. We are just starting to learn about it and figure out how to make it work for us as a community and have it work for our students. It can be a positive thing, as long as people remember to use it safely and responsibly.”
 
Previous page