Spring Break
Students more cautious with Facebook updates
Facebook users evaluate profiles in regards to recent expulsion
Jessica Leggin / Campus Editor
Issue date: 3/12/09 Section: News
Statuses on Facebook seem to be the backbone for the social-networking Web site.
Sometimes these statuses reveal vague information about someone's whereabouts, or gripping details of someone's state of mind.
Facebook statuses have been at the center of attention on Eastern's campus because of the alleged threats against Eastern, posted by student Robert Walker.
According to an e-mail sent out by President Bill Perry on March 3, Walker was banned from campus because of a status he posted on Facebook.
Vicki Miller, a freshman speech pathology major, said she feels the university should not step in with regards to students' statuses on the social-networking Web site.
"I don't think it should be any of their business," she said. "Your status could mean anything."
With the issues surrounding Walker, Miller said some students might think twice about the information they let out onto their Facebook status.
"Now if you mention Eastern, you are probably just going to be putting yourself out there," she said.
Miller said Facebook statuses on the Web site could be a way to blow off steam for some students.
"Because, if I'm stressed, I'll put on my status that 'I'm stressed,'" she said. "Sometimes that can make me feel better."
Sarah Friestad, a sophomore early childhood major, said she can sometimes be seen on Facebook numerous times of the day to inform her friends of what she does on a day-to-day basis with her status.
"I change my status to inform people of just what I'm doing," she said. "They are just fun, and it allows you to just keep in contact with everyone."
Friestad said to a certain extent, Eastern should be able to step in on some issues when regarding Facebook.
"If it is clearly written out that 'I'm going to bomb Eastern,' then yeah, steps should be made, but not for something like 'in five days things are going down,'" she said. "That could have meant anything."
Eric Rusk, a senior graphic design major, said he thinks Facebook statuses are unnecessary.
"I think it is a joke," he said. "I pretty much do not care about people's lives."
Overall, Rusk believed the university went too far in regards to the actions they took against Walker.
"They take things way too far," he said. "They should investigate a lot more before acting on anything."
Elizabeth Couger said when she first heard of the alleged threats toward Eastern, she thought it was worse than what it really was.
"Well when I first saw everything, they made it sound worse than it really was, but I understand they did this for protection," she said. "I like that they sent out the e-mail, but they should have went into detail about what the status was, because that is how rumors get started."
When it comes to statuses on Facebook, Couger said she has nothing to worry about.
"I try to be appropriate, for one, because I am an education major and also to keep it vague so people won't dig into my life, but I see why some people should be cautious." she said. "I feel uncomfortable reading things when people put themselves out there way too much."
Couger said she thinks if someone puts something on their status that poses an initial threat to the university, then administration should step in.
"If it looks harming to the school, then they should step in, because you are protecting everyone on this campus," she said.
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
Sometimes these statuses reveal vague information about someone's whereabouts, or gripping details of someone's state of mind.
Facebook statuses have been at the center of attention on Eastern's campus because of the alleged threats against Eastern, posted by student Robert Walker.
According to an e-mail sent out by President Bill Perry on March 3, Walker was banned from campus because of a status he posted on Facebook.
Vicki Miller, a freshman speech pathology major, said she feels the university should not step in with regards to students' statuses on the social-networking Web site.
"I don't think it should be any of their business," she said. "Your status could mean anything."
With the issues surrounding Walker, Miller said some students might think twice about the information they let out onto their Facebook status.
"Now if you mention Eastern, you are probably just going to be putting yourself out there," she said.
Miller said Facebook statuses on the Web site could be a way to blow off steam for some students.
"Because, if I'm stressed, I'll put on my status that 'I'm stressed,'" she said. "Sometimes that can make me feel better."
Sarah Friestad, a sophomore early childhood major, said she can sometimes be seen on Facebook numerous times of the day to inform her friends of what she does on a day-to-day basis with her status.
"I change my status to inform people of just what I'm doing," she said. "They are just fun, and it allows you to just keep in contact with everyone."
Friestad said to a certain extent, Eastern should be able to step in on some issues when regarding Facebook.
"If it is clearly written out that 'I'm going to bomb Eastern,' then yeah, steps should be made, but not for something like 'in five days things are going down,'" she said. "That could have meant anything."
Eric Rusk, a senior graphic design major, said he thinks Facebook statuses are unnecessary.
"I think it is a joke," he said. "I pretty much do not care about people's lives."
Overall, Rusk believed the university went too far in regards to the actions they took against Walker.
"They take things way too far," he said. "They should investigate a lot more before acting on anything."
Elizabeth Couger said when she first heard of the alleged threats toward Eastern, she thought it was worse than what it really was.
"Well when I first saw everything, they made it sound worse than it really was, but I understand they did this for protection," she said. "I like that they sent out the e-mail, but they should have went into detail about what the status was, because that is how rumors get started."
When it comes to statuses on Facebook, Couger said she has nothing to worry about.
"I try to be appropriate, for one, because I am an education major and also to keep it vague so people won't dig into my life, but I see why some people should be cautious." she said. "I feel uncomfortable reading things when people put themselves out there way too much."
Couger said she thinks if someone puts something on their status that poses an initial threat to the university, then administration should step in.
"If it looks harming to the school, then they should step in, because you are protecting everyone on this campus," she said.
Jessica Leggin can be reached at 581-7942 or at jmleggin@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
a concerned faculty member
posted 3/12/09 @ 8:55 PM CST
I am really tired of everyone assuming they know the full story behind this situation. You know what Mr. Walker told the EN and you know what may be on the Facebook page right now. (Continued…)
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