Mary Mount Universitys Student Code of Conduct Essay

Mary Mount Universitys Student Code of Conduct - Essay Example The Section 4 of Mary Mounts community code of conduct contains the special provision in part b which is very disturbing – it witchhunt on its perceived misconduct online. Students are cautioned that behavior conducted online, such as harassment or bullying via email, can subject them to University conduct action. Students must also be aware that blogs, web page entries on sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter and other similar online postings are in the public sphere and are not private. These postings can subject a student to allegations of conduct violations if evidence of policy violations is posted online. The University does not regularly search for this information but may take action if and when such information is brought to the attention of University officials. This is a chilling provision because, in effect, students cannot post or write anything that school officials might not like. It covers blogs, web page entries on sites such as MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter and other similar online postings under the license of bullying and harassment which would be difficult to interpret. For example, if a student rants about his or her disappointments which are typical among college students, and it was reported to school administrator as harassment, the student will be in trouble as what the special provision on Section 4 states. In effect, this provision dictates its student to only write and post nice things which are a gross violation of the freedom of speech as guaranteed by the Constitution in the First Amendment.