FACEBOOK VIOLATIONS: TOWN HALL MEETING

submitted by gump on Tuesday, November 1 2005 at 11:37 PM

There will be a town hall meeting to discuss recent alcohol violations found on http://thefacebook.com. Testimonies from the students involved and presentations from key administrators will begin the meeting.

FACEBOOK VIOLATIONS: Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, November 3, 2005 @ 9 PM
Senate Hall (Witherspoon 201)

After the presentations, students will be able to voice their concerns and suggestions for policy improvement. This town hall meeting is jointly sponsored by the Student Senate and the Inter-Residence Council. See you Thursday!

posted by Maugan on Tuesday, November 1 2005 at 11:52 PM

what the fuck is this all about?

11/2/2005 12:39:20 AM

umm....what?

11/2/2005 12:41:53 AM

15 students were written-up by their resident advisor in Alexander Hall this past week. The RA found pictures of the residents holding alcoholic beverage containers on the Facebook. Most of the students are international students.

NC State is watching you...

11/2/2005 12:54:43 AM

what a bunch of crybabies


fucking move off campus like real people

11/2/2005 1:04:50 AM

why the hell are things so strict around here...damn let us have some fun in college

11/2/2005 2:10:27 AM

11/2/2005 2:34:29 AM

this is the stupidest, most nit-picking, juvenile thing I've ever heard of. Those RA's need to find something constructive in their own sub-par life....COLLEGE life, than this dumb shit. It waste's time, effort, and money perhaps.....what' a bunch of dumb fucks.

11/2/2005 8:01:21 AM

yeah, all the foreign exchange kids should "fucking move off campus like real people"

11/2/2005 8:36:53 AM

or shouldn't do illegal activities

11/2/2005 8:52:06 AM

well some of them claim to not actually be even touching alcohol in the pictures. so is that really against the rules?

11/2/2005 9:21:05 AM

i think it's fine only IF the container is 100% an alcoholic container, i.e. liquor bottle or beer bottle, not some fucking cup and only if it's in your hand.

11/2/2005 9:29:44 AM

this is an example of why some people should not have power over others, it goes straight to the head.

11/2/2005 9:36:55 AM

I thought international students could drink in Alexander as long as they are 21. hmm....

11/2/2005 9:38:17 AM

there are american students that live there too duh
it says MOST were international

[Edited on November 2, 2005 at 9:40 AM. Reason : viva america]

11/2/2005 9:39:19 AM

i hate ncsu

i just donated money to a school i went to for a year, ncsu will never see a nickel

11/2/2005 9:40:12 AM

I can't say too much. I got a CAT at the game sat for throwing a paper airplane. only i was tossing it two feet to the guy sitting 2 seats down and it wasnt even 8 inches in the air so I don't call that throwing and yet i was ejected from the game and now I have my very own meeting with student conduct on monday.

11/2/2005 9:50:02 AM

Coming from someone who studied abroad for a year, this is the kind of shit that makes the US look bad on top of our foreign policy decisions. You can bet that the intl kids' parents and school officials are scowling and laughing at the same time right about now. One of the many reasons why living abroad is starting to look not too bad.

11/2/2005 10:03:54 AM

Quote :

"living abroad is starting to look not too bad."

11/2/2005 10:12:26 AM

CAT's have gone too far. I'm glad I only lived on campus or in jurisdiction for 2 years.

11/2/2005 10:57:02 AM

I hope somewhere in the world people see this....and laugh. Damn our country sucks!

11/2/2005 11:08:13 AM

As an international student I was put in Alexander Dorm as part of the programme. I didn't really have a choice so living off campus really isn't an option for me or any other international students. Secondly most of the pictures that people are getting in trouble for do not show people explicitly breaking rules they are open to suggestion and people’s personal opinion so before people go shouting thier mouth off you should really know what you are talking about.

The meeting tonight will not result in the people in Alexander who have been written up getting off. It is more to set proper guide lines about what and how RAs can use particular evidence as proof that residence are breaking housing policy.

11/2/2005 11:10:47 AM

RA's busting residents who are (OF AGE) for seeing incriminating pics from FACEBOOK.com website is the fucking most ridicoulous thing I have ever heard. Thank GOD all of my RA's at NCSU were cool as hell, b/c GOD forbid I ever have to run into a dumbass one such as the ones in Alexander Hall!

11/2/2005 12:04:46 PM

I'm going to post nude pics of me drinking beer so I can be an attention whore too!

11/2/2005 12:20:33 PM

This is complete crap--- You can't prove anything ABOUT DRINKING from a picture. There could be water in a vodka 5th and you'd never know the difference.
If they want to use it as cirrcumstantial evidence to further prove alligations against someone that is fine. But a picture cannot hang someone...it's just stupid.

11/2/2005 12:58:00 PM

The problem here... is that it's not ILLEGAL what they did but the SCHOOL is trying to enforce rules on them. What is being fought here is the SCHOOLS right to enforce policy on students from pictures that are obtained in a very crude and inappropriate manor.

The RA that did this, in my opinion, should be removed from RA status. What she did was wrong and intruding. I think it would be very nice if the people that are accused SUE the RA for invasion of privacy etc. Be a nice case.

11/2/2005 1:42:51 PM

haha, this isn't the first time.. This happened last year in Owen when someone's webshots were presented in a powerpoint presentation complete with "humor" added to the RD, by two of the RAs.

11/2/2005 1:44:51 PM

Ri-Goddamned-Diculous

11/2/2005 2:48:23 PM

So people can go through facebook and if you have a drink in your hand in your pic, you can get in trouble? Why is that? Facebook is not affiliated with State.

11/2/2005 3:44:25 PM

Quote :

"The RA that did this, in my opinion, should be removed from RA status. What she did was wrong and intruding. I think it would be very nice if the people that are accused SUE the RA for invasion of privacy etc. Be a nice case."

How is it invasion of privacy or intruding by going on a public website and saying, "hey, i know her. wait, what's that in her hand? hmm...rd ought to know people have been drinking that shouldn't be"

While I don't think many of the residents would trust her much anymore, but I don't think she should be fired. Maybe at most relocated to help diffuse the situation

11/2/2005 4:03:41 PM

my problem with this is that it could lead to using doctored (sp?) images

11/2/2005 4:25:16 PM

Those people written up should sue the piss out of the RA(s) & University Housing.

11/2/2005 5:27:20 PM

First off, I live off campus and I would throw a fit if someone tried to accuse me of things based upon a picture they saw online. The RA that did this should have used their head a little and thought about what they were trying to say before they did anything.

However, posting pics on the internet and then attempting to call it an invasion of privacy is a little far-fetched. You should be more wary of what you post online is all I have to say to whomever got caught.

and yes...it's pretty damn pathetic that they actually are pursuing this to the level that it seems...

11/2/2005 5:28:22 PM

If they're stupid enough to do it, that's what happens.

11/2/2005 5:44:05 PM

wtf.... this has got to be one of the biggest wastes of time and effort ever at this university...

11/2/2005 6:17:41 PM

Quote :

"wtf.... this has got to be one of the biggest wastes of time and effort ever at this university..."

Lol, ranks up there thats for certain

11/2/2005 6:54:23 PM

this is stupid, but i'll be there

11/2/2005 9:29:27 PM

just to curse and shit

11/2/2005 9:29:45 PM

Quote :

"One of the many reasons why living abroad is starting to look not too bad."

Then GTFO!

11/2/2005 10:23:58 PM

actually the pictures that they took were from a webshots gallery that was on one of the girls facebook profile..it wasnt there facebook picture

11/2/2005 10:48:37 PM

hmmm, this should be interesting, I might go just to watch the spectacle

11/3/2005 12:01:08 AM

faggotry

those RA's should be required to hang themselves over the railings for all to see

11/3/2005 12:07:58 AM

Lets make a Facebook Group Against THEM!

11/3/2005 12:15:55 AM

holy shit i didnt know people actually clicked on the shit on the front page

11/3/2005 7:00:50 AM

^ haha, me neither.

Apparently the trouble here is that some students are standing in a doorway of Alexander. Behind the two students in a room is an alcoholic container. I heard somewhere that the charges were actually "consuming alcohol in the presence of a minor" for the ppl who are of age, and I'm not sure about the underage ones, but as said before, apparently the pictures do not show anyone holding any containers?

To me, this is like the police. They either have to 1) see you doing it, 2) you admit to doing it, 3)they give you some sort of sobriety test. Since 3 can't happen from a picture, and i doubt 2 will happen. If what I heard is correct, this should all go over?

11/3/2005 8:29:04 AM

^^That's because you have down syndrome.

And anyone who thinks they can't do anything does not know shit about Paul Cousins.

He'll fucking railroad you without you even breaking a rule. He's a fucking douche.



And hello Paul, I know you're reading this. If you want, just print this out and add it to my already ballooning file. Asshole.

[Edited on November 3, 2005 at 9:30 AM. Reason : .]

11/3/2005 9:27:19 AM

ATTN: RA, get a life, thanks

11/3/2005 10:12:30 AM

collegehumor is gay

11/3/2005 11:47:29 AM

Quote :

"know shit about Paul Cousins"

Did he really compare this to the Abu Ghraib prison scandal or did I read wrong?

11/3/2005 12:46:03 PM

This is some funny shit

11/3/2005 1:05:11 PM

BIG BROTHER

11/3/2005 1:15:13 PM

this story only got so many replies b/c the title was in ALL CAPS

11/3/2005 2:09:55 PM

Lets make a Facebook Group Against THEM!

http://ncst.facebook.com/group_profile.php?gid=10284

11/3/2005 3:25:54 PM

Quote :

"And anyone who thinks they can't do anything does not know shit about Paul Cousins. He'll fucking railroad you without you even breaking a rule. He's a fucking douche. And hello Paul, I know you're reading this. If you want, just print this out and add it to my already ballooning file. Asshole."

HAHAHHAHAHAHAhhaahahHAHahaa

11/3/2005 4:53:01 PM

some people will be de-friending their RA....dizzam

11/3/2005 5:38:39 PM

this is a problem with the higher ups, such as Kathleen Ruppe and Heather MacKenzie.. things all went to smithereens when they showed up.. especially Heather

11/3/2005 7:22:09 PM

Now this is some ridiculous stuff. I was lucky with all 4 of my years at State to have kool ass RA's that let me live my life as an adult and not look for ways to get a student in trouble.

To search or hell, even just run across a pic in chat site and then use the pics that are not injuring, hurting, or causing damage to anyone to get someone is trouble is truly childish.

Thos RA's should be stripped of title and I really hope that you students get even with those RA's and any RA's in support of them. Make the rest of the college life miserable for them in a legal way, but definately make them feel like they should drop out...since what they are doing seems like they are trying to get some students kicked out.


III
&
FH
...A???

11/3/2005 7:36:22 PM

Quote :

"To me, this is like the police. They either have to 1) see you doing it, 2) you admit to doing it, 3)they give you some sort of sobriety test. Since 3 can't happen from a picture, and i doubt 2 will happen. If what I heard is correct, this should all go over?"

one minor problem here. You assume that the only possible violation is that of actual drinking. That is not the case. Students agree to abide by housing policy in order to live in on campus housing. Part of campus housing policy, according to my RA, is that NO ONE can drink alcohol in the presence of anyone under age. NO ONE can even be holding alcohol or an alcoholic beverage container in a dorm room in the presence of anyone who is underaged. Thats simply housing policy. You don't like it? Too bad, you gotta follow the rules.

Are some of the rules that were broken stupid? Hell yes. But they are still rules. Hate on the RA all you want, but she did her job. Her job is to make sure that university housing's policies are enforced. Her job isn't to be loved by all of her residents. I sincerely doubt that she was sniffing around looking for people to write up. I'll bet that what likely happened was she was browsing facebook, saw the pictures, and had to make a choice. Even better, I'll bet she had to think about living up to her own words to her residents that she spoke at the beginning of the semester. They probably went something like this: "I know people drink underaged. Don't let me catch you doing it. If I see it or hear of it, I'll report it, but I won't go searching for it." Thats what every RA I've ever had has said.

If, for some odd reason, the RA was actually looking for trouble, then I sincerely doubt she would have gone to the trouble of scouring facebook for it. Instead, she likely would have just walked in on the residents to see what they were doing. Its Alexander. It aint that hard of a thing to do. And its a crapton easier than scouring a website.

11/3/2005 7:58:48 PM

aaronburro are you crazy?

Quote :

"I'll bet that what likely happened was she was browsing facebook, saw the pictures, and had to make a choice. "

thats bullshit....she was looking to get residents in trouble and overstep her bounds. no one just browes for residents of alexander hall just for shits and giggles. even if she were just browsing...she could have let it slide because she didnt actually see violations in person. regardless 99.99% of ra's wouldnt write anyone up for pictures. most ra's are generally cool: my own ra was asking around about boomers my freshman year

11/3/2005 11:42:27 PM

^ even though that would make sense in a real court. this is ncsu court! those guys are nazi's.

11/4/2005 12:21:48 AM

Quote :

"wtf.... this has got to be one of the biggest wastes of time and effort ever at this university..."

Yeah, right along with this year's football program...

11/4/2005 2:41:39 AM

Quote :

"I sincerely doubt that she was sniffing around looking for people to write up. I'll bet that what likely happened was she was browsing facebook, saw the pictures, and had to make a choice. Even better, I'll bet she had to think about living up to her own words to her residents that she spoke at the beginning of the semester. They probably went something like this: "I know people drink underaged. Don't let me catch you doing it. If I see it or hear of it, I'll report it, but I won't go searching for it." Thats what every RA I've ever had has said."

Also known as BS...


III
&
FH
...A???

11/4/2005 8:58:38 AM

i think burro is on point. you guys are a bunch of crybabies for acting like their rights were violated. they broke the rules, they got in trouble for it.

11/4/2005 9:03:22 AM

Quote :

"thats bullshit....she was looking to get residents in trouble and overstep her bounds."

do you care to actually support your assertion with fact, or even reasonable logic-based conjecture?

Quote :

"no one just browes for residents of alexander hall just for shits and giggles."

really? are you sure? have you never gone onto facebook just to look for people you know and see what they are up to?

Quote :

"even if she were just browsing...she could have let it slide because she didnt actually see violations in person."

soooo. in other words, she could have chosen to ignore university policy, even though she is supposed to uphold it. hmmmm... is that really the kind of person we want in the RA position?

Maybe, instead, you disagree with the actual policy of the university, instead of what the RA did. Maybe, then, you should take it up with the university. I don't like speed limits, but when a policeman pulls me over, I don't get pissed off at him for enforcing the law.

11/4/2005 9:53:51 AM

will this eventually extend to students posting pictures of themselves smoking from a bong?

11/4/2005 1:31:52 PM

Lets please try and keep all comments on this topic in one location. Please go to the original thread http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=360995&page=10 for all new information and to continue debate. thanks

11/4/2005 1:38:48 PM

Quote :

"I don't like speed limits, but when a policeman pulls me over, I don't get pissed off at him for enforcing the law. "

Catching underage drinking in person and catching them off a picture is completely different. I bet you would be pissed if a cop came and gave you a ticket because he saw you in a picture and it looked like you were speeding.

11/4/2005 3:19:26 PM

but red light cameras are proof enough to issue a ticket.

11/4/2005 3:28:31 PM

Views: 54127

[Edited on November 4, 2005 at 4:55 PM. Reason : I believe that is a record for the front page.]

11/4/2005 4:54:49 PM

I'm sure the link on collegehumor.com has a lot to do with that...... again, lets get in the forum where we have had 10 pages of unraveling this topic already.....
http://www.thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=360995&page=10

11/4/2005 5:30:45 PM

that they "should be crucified" =/= "im going to crucify"

i mean i had problems with paul cousins and the way he handles students before

but there is such a thing as FREEDOM OF SPEECH

fucking idiot

11/4/2005 6:37:01 PM

Just say it was water or o douls they can't prove shit.

11/4/2005 10:23:43 PM

sucks not being old enough to live on your own and buy your own beer huh

11/4/2005 11:09:13 PM

Quote :

"Catching underage drinking in person and catching them off a picture is completely different."

too bad that it wasn't simply a matter of underaged drinking...

btw, there is very little way to prove that someone was speeding in a picture. Its VERY easy to prove that someone violated certain university policies via a picture.

11/5/2005 8:41:01 PM

I don't think pictures could prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person was breaking university policies. If it were a truly fair system, that's what they'd have to prove.

I lived in Alexander and I thought the policies were stupid. They take international students, like me, who'd been drinking legally for years, stick them in with underage roommates and tell them not to drink when underagers are around. It's doesn't work. It's a total set up. I was almost caught three times (not that I was ever breaking any rules!!).

Using your speeding analogy, any cop can fine someone for doing one mile an hour over the speed limit, but that doesn't make it fair or even right. You have to allow for a margin of error; particularly with international students, because abitrary drinking policies are totally alien to them.

We had one fair RA who recognized that drinking in the presence of an underager wasn't a big deal and one (overly) strict RA who enforced the law to the letter. I know it's not a popularity contest, but the strict RA made life miserable for a lot of people.

[Edited on November 6, 2005 at 5:08 PM. Reason : ...]

11/6/2005 4:56:43 PM

Quote :

"I don't think pictures could prove beyond reasonable doubt that a person was breaking university policies. If it were a truly fair system, that's what they'd have to prove."

ummmm. If the rule is "no underaged people in the presence of an alcoholic container in a university housing room," then yes, a picture can conclusively prove that the violation took place.

Quote :

"Using your speeding analogy, any cop can fine someone for doing one mile an hour over the speed limit, but that doesn't make it fair or even right."

Actually, its totally fair, and totally right. One mile an hour over is speeding, and you know its speeding. Granted, if your equipment isn't functioning properly, you might get off. Of course, cops don't waste their time with petty shit like that anyway...

Quote :

"particularly with international students, because abitrary drinking policies are totally alien to them."

Ignorance of the law is NO EXCUSE, especially when you sign that little sheet of paper that says "I agree to abide by ALL university housing policies."

Quote :

"We had one fair RA who recognized that drinking in the presence of an underager wasn't a big deal and one (overly) strict RA who enforced the law to the letter. I know it's not a popularity contest, but the strict RA made life miserable for a lot of people."

Great, so you had one RA who maybe didn't do his job of enforcing UH policy and you had one who did. Thx for that anecdote. Contrary to popular belief, RA's aren't there to be liked. They are there to make sure students follow the rules. Everything else is gravy.

11/7/2005 1:59:54 AM

Quote :

"ummmm. If the rule is "no underaged people in the presence of an alcoholic container in a university housing room," then yes, a picture can conclusively prove that the violation took place."

A reasonable doubt could be that the photo was staged. Digital photos are not conclusive evidence of all crimes. I'm not saying it was in this case. I'm saying it's a possibility. That it is a possibility means it constitutes reasonable doubt. But yeah, I know we're not talking about a legal system; we're talking about arbitrary university rules.

Quote :

"Actually, its totally fair, and totally right. One mile an hour over is speeding, and you know its speeding. Granted, if your equipment isn't functioning properly, you might get off. Of course, cops don't waste their time with petty shit like that anyway..."

Exactly, cops don't waste their time with petty shit. That's what this is: petty shit. What we disagree on is the usefulness and significance of the rule.

Quote :

"Ignorance of the law is NO EXCUSE, especially when you sign that little sheet of paper that says "I agree to abide by ALL university housing policies.""

I didn't say ignorance of the law. I said you have to allow for a margin of error. It definitely takes international students longer to get used to a new set of rules.

It happens all the time in proper judicial systems. For instance, two elderly American women were arrested recently in Dubai for distributing bibles. They could have been imprisoned for years, or worse, sentenced to death. Instead, they let them go with a warning. Going by your reasoning, they should have been executed.

International students are coming from a situation where they have greater freedom to one where they have less, like the two women in Dubai. Showing a little understanding of cultural differences goes a long way. I never said the rules shouldn't apply, but I think they could be lenient on the first offence, or the first few offences, with international students.

Quote :

"Great, so you had one RA who maybe didn't do his job of enforcing UH policy and you had one who did. Thx for that anecdote. Contrary to popular belief, RA's aren't there to be liked. They are there to make sure students follow the rules. Everything else is gravy."

That's why I said, "I know it's not a popularity contest". Enforcing the rules so strictly does make life harder than necessary for international students and it wouldn't be difficult to be a bit more lenient.

[Edited on November 7, 2005 at 7:37 PM. Reason : ...]

11/7/2005 7:33:30 PM

nm, i don't feel like getting into this

[Edited on November 7, 2005 at 10:57 PM. Reason : i said nm bitch]

11/7/2005 10:49:07 PM

WHOA!!

11/7/2005 11:07:13 PM

Quote :

"A reasonable doubt could be that the photo was staged."

that doubt is eliminated by asking "why would someone stage such a photograph?"

Quote :

"I'm saying it's a possibility. That it is a possibility means it constitutes reasonable doubt."

simply being a possibility doesn't constitute reasonable doubt. It is entirely possible that there is an invisible spaghetti monster in the sky. However, its highly unlikely.

Quote :

"It definitely takes international students longer to get used to a new set of rules."

isn't that just "ignorance of the laws?" there is no "getting used to the rules." there is "following them" and "not following them."

Quote :

"Going by your reasoning, they should have been executed."

and if they were, then they got what the law allowed, and "justice," from the standpoint of that country, was done. Of course, i think we can agree there is a big difference between having a beer underaged and acting as a religious dogma tells you to act...

Quote :

"Enforcing the rules so strictly does make life harder than necessary for international students and it wouldn't be difficult to be a bit more lenient."

I know... heaven forbid we actually expect college students to follow rules. what a crazy fucking idea... Seriously, this whole thing is not about the photos, and everyone knows it. Its about college students wanting to be able to drink. The state laws, however, say that many college students can't, and the university therefor enforces this law among those that live in its facilities. Deal with it. Don't like the rule? Well, then break it, but don't be shocked when you find yourself sitting face to to face with Paul Cousins...

Or, you could lobby to change the rules, or even lobby to change the laws...

11/17/2005 4:27:50 PM