Social networking sites like Facebook.com have become prime venues for students to freely express their opinions. But Fisher College sophomore Cameron Walker learned he cannot say whatever he wants – even on his Facebook page. When Walker decided to petition against a Fisher College police officer in 2005, he turned to the medium he knew best – Facebook. He wrote in a post that the guard “loved to antagonize students … and needs to be eliminated,” according to a Newsweek article. Newsweek said another student read the post and reported Walker to Fisher College authorities who later expelled Walker from the college. Although 1,578 miles separate Fisher College in Boston from LSU, the practice of using Facebook and other social networking sites is not foreign here. The Office of Judicial Affairs, LSU Police Department and Louisiana State Police have all admitted to using Facebook during their investigations. “Anything someone does in public, and Facebook is a public site, can be held accountable,” said Eric Norman, associate dean of students and director of Judicial Affairs. Norman said although Judicial Affairs does not typically seek out Facebook and other social network sites, they can be used as a tools during investigations. He said if students provide conflicting information during an investigation, items posted on the site can be used to clarify the situation. He also said Facebook can be used to support a claim a student makes. Norman said threatening situations like those involving harassment and assault are the cases where Facebook would most probably be used. But other types of incidents portrayed on Facebook are fair game, also. “Anything that’s a violation of our Code of Conduct could be pursued,” Norman said.
LAW ENFORCEMENT Sgt. Markus Smith, public affairs supervisor for the Louisiana State Police, said the department uses Facebook to find leads or corroborate already-reported-facts. He said Facebook posts can, in some instances, be used as evidence. “We will use whatever information needed to solve a crime,” Smith said. “Anything available to us, we will use.” Smith said Facebook is not something the state police check, instead they use Facebook when investigations lead them to it. Smith also said Facebook content has started investigations with other agencies, but it often does not start state police investigations. Whether state police investigates someone because of their Facebook content depends on the severity of the crime, Smith said. If someone brags about not getting caught speeding, they will not be hunted by state police, Smith said. LSUPD also admitted to using Facebook during investigations. “It’s only used to check on students’ safety and welfare for the most part,” said Maj. Lawrence Rabalais, LSUPD spokesman.
Office of Judicial Affairs Norman said typically three to four cases per year start as a direct result of something posted on Facebook. He said faculty members, students and community members have reported students with the main source of evidence being a Facebook link. Norman said the community’s awareness of campus has increased after the Virginia Tech shootings, and the increase is leading “community members to be more proactive in recommending cases to Judicial Affairs.” But Norman said the Office of Judicial Affairs does not have time to “police” Facebook. “We typically do proactive teaching or react to referrals,” Norman said. He said the middle ground between the two would require massive amounts of manpower and time the office does not have. Norman said even if his office had more time, they would not spend it policing Facebook. “It’s reactionary,” Norman said. “If I had more time, I would be more proactive. I’d rather have a conversation before something occurs.” Some students favor the use of Facebook by law enforcement and the Office of Judicial Affairs. “If you put something online you should expect that anybody would be able to access it,” said Rebecca Hebert, photography senior. But not all students agree. “I think people have just gone a little overboard on cracking down,” said Laura Petitt, dietetics junior. “I think they should be able to catch you in the act and not by pictures on Facebook.” But Petitt also said students should not post self-incriminating photos on the site. Raffeal Bennett, chemistry freshman, agreed that law enforcement and Judicial Affairs should not use Facebook. He said many people say things they do not truly mean on Facebook and should not get in trouble because of it. Students also disagreed about whether they would report someone they saw behaving questionably on Facebook. Norman said Facebook could be a vital tool in noticing someone’s behavior digress over time, which he thinks is an interesting way for community members to use Facebook. He said some suicides could possibly be prevented this way. “Facebook is not the name of everyone’s existence. It’s the choices they make,” Norman said.
—-Contact Allen Womble at [email protected]