International Law

Facebooking to expulsion

Another "watchwhat you post to Facebook story" (for a previous example, see here):

... Using Facebook can also get you booted out of college.

That?s what happened to T. Hayden Barnes, who, according to a piece recently published by InsideHigherEd.com, was ?administratively withdrawn? from Georgia?s Valdosta State University. A student in his sophomore year, Barnes evidently managed to upset Ronald Zaccari, the university?s president, enough last May to get shown the proverbial door. His crime: opposing Valdosta?s plan ?to build two large parking garages with $30 million from students? mandatory fees.?

Barnes didn?t have a very cordial relationship with the university before his forced departure. In the spring of 2007, he posted fliers critical of the scheduled development; sent letters to school administrators as well as the campus newspaper; and wrote mass emails to the student body. He was a busy and quite vocal chap before his expulsion, for sure.

The outstanding factor, though, for Barnes?s withdrawal was evidently a picture posted to his Facebook profile in which he portrayed a collage of images showing president Zaccari, a bulldozer aside the proposed parking garage, and the phrases ?No Blood for Oil? and ?S.A.V.E.-Zaccari Memorial Parking Garage.?

Translation: Zaccari found that Barnes signified a ?clear and present danger to (Valdosta State)? and proceeded with his removal, which he said would only be reversed if the student could prove to have been examined by a non-university psychiatrist to certify that he was ?not a threat to himself or anyone else, and that he would receive ?on-going therapy.??

...

Such stories of controversy involving social networking sites are abundant ? and will only continue to grow in number. I simply found this particular dispute to be especially worthwhile to mention, as it involves the topics of online protest and free speech. The questions I put to you now are: Do you think Barnes?s expulsion was warranted? Do you find this instance involving Facebook unusual? Do you recall any similar conflicts occurring?

Read more here (from Mashable).

Full post as published by Freedom to Differ on January 14, 2008 (boomark / email).