What you put online may be used against you

The Issue: Schools are using online photos against students What we think: Act is a violation of privacy

Just as the Facebook has changed the way millions of students across the country communicate and keep track of each other's personal lives, it may also be changing how universities are finding out which students are violating their policies. An alarming trend is developing at many universities where officials are searching Facebook profiles and Webshots accounts for incriminating photos to use against students.

At NC State, RA's are documenting student offenses found through photos on Facebook.com. Students are being brought up on charges merely for being seen in the presence of or holding onto alcohol in photos. A student was expelled at Fisher College after university officials saw postings he made in a Facebook group asking students to conspire to get a police officer fired. At Boston College, students have had to meet with Resident Hall Directors to discuss what was found in their Webshots photo gallery.

This is disturbing because the Facebook is a forum where students should be free to express themselves. Frankly, it's none of the University's business how students fill their personal profiles.

Officials can't open the drawers of university-issued desks to look for incriminating evidence, but it's OK to search someone's Facebook profile or Webshots account and browse through all their photos until something catches their eye? While it's not illegal because the photos are online and in the public domain, it's infringing on student's privacy.

Of course, BC is a private university, so any First Amendment arguments don't apply. Be careful about what's in your profile, it may come back to haunt you.