ByWillAtkinson.com

I wrote a piece for the Johnsonian on campus police’ use of the social networking Web site Facebook.

You’re already on it. Your friends are on it. You may have checked out new people, laughed at pictures or joined a group on it.

It’s Facebook, a social networking Web site universally popular with college students. Millions have signed up, propelling Facebook to the seventh most popular site on the entire Internet. The site also has a huge “sticky” factor: 67 percent of users log in daily.

In a recent development, campus police and university officials around the country have begun using the Web site to curb illegal behavior.

Winthrop is no different.

“If somebody does something questionable in Facebook, it will get reported to us,” said Dan Yeargin, assistant chief of the Winthrop police department.

Winthrop police does not usually monitor Facebook for violations, Yeargin said, but the department uses it as an investigation tool. He said MySpace.com has also been used in inspections.

“When you post your photos of you taking a big old drag off a joint and somebody gets offended by it and tells the police about it, don’t be surprised if we come knocking on your door,” Yeargin said. “There’s no privacy. It’s open to the public.”

Some schools are more stringent than others.

Police from the University at Buffalo are using Facebook to catch students who appear in pictures smoking marijuana, drinking beer and using drugs. If a Buffalo student appears to be drinking a beer in a picture, they are summoned before the student judiciary council. So far the school has caught over 1,900 students breaking the law. Even a dorm prostitution ring was discovered.

The issue is widespread. Last year, two swimmers from Louisiana State were kicked off the team after posting Facebook messages disparaging their coach. A University of Colorado football player was suspended for sending a racist Facebook message last December.

Kerri Moskow, a 21-year-old graphic design senior, used Facebook to promote her house party. Winthrop police caught wind of the event through Facebook and contacted Moskow the day before her party.

“They looked it up on Facebook,” Moskow said. “They told me to make sure there are no underage drinkers.”

Moskow said Winthrop police warned her she could be charged with a noise violation even if there was no alcohol served. She isn’t offended the police contacted her though.

“This whole Facebook thing is stupid. The police have a right to look at it as anybody else does,” Moskow said. “I know they’re under a lot of pressure from the city to crack down on underage drinking. If you’re putting stuff out there [on Facebook], you might as well expect consequences.”

Still, the incident has left her cautious.

“I’m not listing another party. I’ll tell you that much,” Moskow said.

Moskow’s roommate, 21-year-old early childhood education senior Ashley Sherrer, is annoyed.

“I think it’s stupid police are using Facebook because there’s probably people dying in Rock Hill,” Sherrer said. “I can’t complain too much because I put it out there. I still think it’s wrong for college kids to get other college kids in trouble.”
Some Winthrop police officers are members of Facebook themselves.

“We have officers here that are students,” said Dan Yeargin, assistant chief of Winthrop police. “It wouldn’t be uncommon for them to be members of Facebook.”

Officer Jim Troyan has a profile. Not surprisingly, he is a member of the “Criminology Scholars International” Facebook group. Interestingly, Animal House – a movie that glorifies college drinking – is cited as one of his favorite movies. Troyan currently has one Facebook “friend” at Winthrop.