SCSu has jumped at the opportunity to connect with students and staff using social networking sites.
Websites like Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin are some of the most popular sites on the internet right now. Facebook boasts 600 million users alone, a num- ber that is steadily rising.
The SCSu Facebook page is an effective tool for students to stay connected with their school and vice versa. The page features news stories pertaining to student interests, as well as faculty and alumni interests.
One recent story is SCSU alumni and Minnesota Wild center Matt Cullen’s donation to the Sanford Health Foundation.
The webpage also keeps up-to-date on construction projects happening over the
summer by posting images of the new ISELF building and the renovations being done to the national Hockey Center.
“Our Facebook page provides unprecedented interaction for our community and valuable feedback for campus leaders,” said Loren Boone, assistant vice president of Marketing and Communication. “Three years it ago it was a novelty. now it’s a key tool in our communication infrastructure.”
SCSu students and faculty can also make pages related to their own groups. The Admissions department has its own page to stay connected with future students and to provide them with registration information, as well as important dates for incoming freshmen.
There is also an alumni page where former students can stay connected with their school and with other alumni.
The Department of Music has several pages. There are pages to stay connected with the College of Fine Arts and Humanities, the Women’s Choir, the Husky Sports Band, New Music and Media, as well as specific pages such as flutes, low brass and drumline.
Facebook was also the home of a student protest in April, 2012 called “Truth March”. SCSU: Education is a Right is a group devoted to cheaper and more affordable education. Though the group has had only one demonstration so far, they still have 153 members.
Social networking is important, but some issues con- cerning privacy and how to keep it have been a general concern for many. A Facebook page can be seen by any- body. This includes businesses and schools.
While the university has no initial intention to view students’ personal networking pages, they can if they find it necessary.
“[SCSU] is not a police department, so we don’t have the investigative kinds of things that police do,” said Ger- ald Bulisco, assistant dean of students. “However, we can often get help if someone is stalking someone and there is actually a complaint filed against someone.”
SCSU says it is important to respect the privacy of students, whether it involves any sort of conduct case or otherwise.
“We don’t look at people’s emails or who you’re sending them to, that’s very private,” Bulisco said. “Although, in theory it doesn’t belong to you, we still respect that privacy.”
Harassment over social networking sites is something that has been brought to national attention over the last several years that Facebook and Twitter have exploded as social hubs.
“We have had a couple of cases where we have found people in violation of harassment over Facebook,” Bulisco said.
To stay connected with SCSU, visit the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/stcloudstate or their Twitter feed at twitter.com/stcloudstate.
