Oh the phenomenon of social websites and internet networks...Facebook, MySpace, we've all heard of them. In fact, nowadays it's almost impossible not to belong to one. Okay, maybe not impossible but it definitely requires a large amount of self-control, which I for one do not have! I feel like I can't go anywhere on campus without someone talking about Facebook. "Did you see the photos so & so tagged of me from that party this weekend...I was soo wasted" or "Can you believe that he didn't accept my friend request?!" Now, seeing it in writing, the conversations we often have about this social website are rather pathetic. I mean who cares really if someone isn't your "facebook friend". Is it really all that important in the larger scheme of things? But that's beside my point....
With it's growing popularity, Facebook has not only become a useful tool for connecting students worldwide, but also a means to incriminate underage drinkers and more specifically college athletes. Today, almost anyone with an email address can register for an account. You no longer have to have a .edu address to join. This means that everyone and anyone out there can see the information posted to this site. Yep, professors, coaches, employers, even your parents can see those shameful photos or video of you partaking in "illegal activity".
In recent months, the NCAA has been cracking down upon the use of Facebook by college athletes. Many athletes have been suspended or completely kicked off their team because of questionable information posted on their personal pages. According to a recent article in the Kansas City Star, two LSU swimmers were kicked off the team in 2005 for posting negative comments about their fellow teammates and coaching staff. Six Colorado track and field athletes who were also dismissed from their team after posting suggestive pictures of themselves at a party online. I could go on and on about these individual cases of athletes being held accountable for content on their Facebook pages.
While the NCAA has been monitoring such activity, it is up to individual institutions to completely restrict the useage of Facebook by athletes. During preseason lectures, many are even required to sign a waiver stating that they can and will be held responsible for any information posted on the Internet. Some schools such as Kent State and even JMU temporarily banned social networking among athletes. Today, most colleges and universities strictly monitor these websites. The main argument is that athletes not only represent themselves, their families, and individual teams, but also their schools. With that said, they are expected to conduct themselves accordingly. My question is, do you think coaches and athletic directors are going too far in restricting their athletes? If athletes are held to these high standards shouldn't the every-day student be as well? These individuals also represent the face of their university in a very large way.
Last year a number of collegiate teams were put under fire by a website called BadJocks.com for posting pictures depicting underage drinking, so-called "harrassment", and "hazing" on Facebook, MySpace, as well as WebShots.com. The entire point of BadJocks is to pinpoint athletes behaving badly and then bring this behavior to the attention of their universities. Many of you may not be aware, but the JMU Women's Club soccer team was one of the many teams called out by this site. This goes to show that ahtletes on ALL levels are being monitored and many don't even realize it.
As a member of the JMU Women's Club Soccer Team, I can say that I never realized the extent to which we were being watched until our team's season was nearly suspended for pictures posted on WebShots. We were taken to trial by the JMU Sports Club Council and forced to opt-out of competing in our Regional tournament (among many other punishments). As two time defending regional champs, this was a major blow to the team. What we thought was an innocent new member party, was viewed by many university officials as hazing (through our photographs). This goes to show that pictures posted online ARE monitored, and very closely indeed. Although we were not wearing JMU Club Soccer shirts or uniforms this site somehow found enough information in order to link pictures to our club website and roster.
By no means am I attempting to excuse our actions, but my question is, if we were not athletes or part of any organization on campus, would our behavior still have been so closely scrutinized? Are athletes targeted unjustly in comparison to regular college students taking part in the same sort of activities?
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