The Bluffer - Red Bluff, CA
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/59339
Opinion O Page 3 March 23, 2012 Is the administration violating students' privacy by N viewing their Facebook profiles? Marissa Chase, Viewpoints Editor specifically Facebook, to catch student athletes with illegal substances like alcohol? This is definitely not an issue of invading somebody's privacy for three key reasons. One of them being the fact that athletes at this school have to sign a contract, otherwise known as the Athletic Handbook, saying they won't consume, possess, or distribute any alcohol. That should therefore take away this problem permanently, right? Secondly, posting incriminating pictures on Facebook shows poor judgement. Finally, a Facebook account can be made private, but your "friends" still have access to all of your information. Athletes at this school and any school are looked up to; they have T a position of leadership and make a lot of money for schools. It is a privilege to be an athlete and therefore athletes have more rules to abide by and are watched more closely than other students. Before an athlete can participate, he/she must sign the Athletic Handbook. It is basically a contract made up of rules any athlete must follow. There is also a list of the consequences for breaking these rules. Two or three years ago it was revised because the school board felt that it lacked aggressive action, according to Patrick Gleason, the principal of RBHS. "Any athlete who brings discredit to a team or to our school will have consequences for his/her behavior. Participants athletic activities shall not consume, possess, o be an invasion of privacy, or not to be an invasion of privacy, that is the question: Is it legal for Red Bluff High School to use the internet, Madi Cumpton, Features Editor R YES ecently, there have been a lot of students, who are also athletes, getting in trouble for posts on their Facebook pages. These posts generally relate to drinking and partying. I think this is a violation of privacy, and what you do on your own time should not be the schools business, even if you are an athlete. Some people would argue, "Well if they're posting it for the world to see, then it's not violating their privacy." They aren't posting those pictures or statuses for the world, just their friends. I have a Facebook account, like almost every other high school student in America. I like to say what's on my mind, have friendly conversations with others, and post pictures of what I'm doing. friends My account is very private, and only my 100 can i n o r distribute alcohol or any illegal substance in any manner." This comes directly from the Athletic Handbook, the handbook signed by all student athletes. So, for this to be an issue at all, seems odd. People who can't follow a few simple rules for the duration of their season, should not be athletes. Then, they wouldn't have to be worried about their privacy being invaded. The participation of sports IS optional. To invade somebody's privacy consists of doing it without just cause. After talking to the school, their method to catch athletes with drugs is not only legal, but extremely fair too. According to Gleason, they cannot call anybody in and confiscate a phone or have them log on to their Facebook account. They don't take rumors into account either. If an adult or student had a picture to prove an athlete was drinking, then they would further investigate it. Plus, not all offenders are equally punished. This, to me, is great because every case is different and needs different consequences. This shows that the school is very understanding and not out to enforce strict, meaningless rules. "I don't want to rely on a piece of paper to decide a punishment. I use judgement," said Gleason. Facebook in 2011 was growing towards 700 million users according to (insidefacebook.com). With that many users, it seems right to properly secure your account. An account can be filled with personal information and pictures. Not only do you have to be aware of the millions of strangers surfing the internet, but colleges too. They can be very active on Facebook. According to a UMass Amherst study, in 2011, 100 percent of colleges used social media in one way or another. A Facebook account is a reflection of its user and can ultimately be the reason for somebody not getting into college. It is not an invasion of privacy for colleges, and it is not for Red Bluff High School. If you choose to post pictures of you doing something illegal, and then later on befriend the whole public to see your account, you decide your fate in the end. Gleason mentioned, "Kids do not understand the importance of having their Facebook private." Clearly the school is just trying to ensure the well-being of its members and itself, and there is no reason to turn this ordeal into something it is not. Maybe the Athletic Handbook could be revised again. The underlying reason to this all could have been caused by miscommunication. These rules are made for a reason; to protect us. Therefore, the proper precautionary measures should be taken to get the best result possible. I or so can see what I post, like every other person who has a Facebook and is under 18 years old. Even though people say anything you post is not private because it's on the internet, I beg to differ. Sure, some people do not make their accounts private, but I know I do, and all of my friends do. I don't want any creepers looking at my pictures or reading my conversations. I can decide who see what I post, send me messages, and write on my wall. I can even make it to where certain people on my friends list can't see my pictures. So, when people try to say social networking sites are not private, they really just don't know how to work them into being private. On the Facebook terms and conditions that every user must agree to, it states: We take safety issues very seriously, especially with children, and we encourage parents to teach their children about safe internet practices. To protect minors, we may put special safeguards in place (such as placing restrictions on the ability of adults to share and connect with them), recognizing this may provide minors a more limited experience on Facebook. Mark Zuckerberg, the creator of Facebook, did this so minors will not have to deal with creeps. He also had the brilliant idea of Privacy Settings. This can make your page even more private. Therefore, weird old guys who live across the country with their mothers cannot look at my page. Others would say that pictures of athletes at parties gives the school a bad reputation and that the students signed a release form saying that they wouldn't do anything to make the school or their team look bad. Sure, that's pretty black and white. But does that mean you should use someone's pictures against them? The school doesn't even go looking for them. The only way they get the pictures is if another student or parent gives it to them. Deliberately handing Mr. Gleason a picture of someone posing for a picture with a can of beer in his or her hand with the intention of getting them benched or in trouble is just wrong. I don't understand why they even care in the first place. Not your kid, not your problem. If I spent the night at a friend's house and we did something to make their mom or dad mad, does that give them the right to ground me? I sure don't think so. Call my parents and they will handle the situation with how they feel is a proper punishment. The school board, ssue: Is it right for Red Bluff High School to catch student athletes with illegal substances through Facebook? A closer look at the Athletic Handbook It is vital that our athletes represent the school, the community, and themselves in a positive way. In an effort to achieve this goal, we expect athletes will not: 1. Use alcohol, tobacco, non prescribed narcotics, marijuana, steroids, or any controlled substances. 2. Violate school rules. (Discipline for violation of school rules will be left to the discretion of the administration.) 3. Display conduct detracting from a positive educational enviroment. The following penalties are minimums: First offense in a school year: Suspension from athletic competition for no less than 7 school days from the first date of disciplinary action. Second offense in a school year: Suspension from athletic competition for no less than 10 days of school from the first date of disciplinary action. Third offense in a school year: Suspension from athletic competition for the duration of a school year: The student will be placed on probation for the following school year, and a subsequent violation while on probation will cause the student to be denied further athletic participation for the remainder of that school year. Taken directly from the Athletic Handbook principals, and teachers are not our parents. They should not be able to tell us what we can and cannot do on our own free time. And they shouldn't be able to punish us if we do something they don't approve of. Home and school are completely different places. But, regardless what I say, it is a rule in the athletic handbook. I don't agree with it, but it is. I think revising that rule would be a good idea. They shouldn't be able to have a say in what we do in our free time. And, as someone who has gotten in trouble for going to a party during a sports season, the system we "agree to" is unfair, and needs to be up to date.