April 19, 2012

Dear Students,

As the use of social media continues to grow, I am writing to remind you that it is crucial to make sure that all of your social media communications are both appropriate and legal.

While social media communications are, by nature, informal and spontaneous, it is important to realize that any statements you make via social media can have a lasting and far-reaching impact, as demonstrated by incidents that have occurred around the nation.

On campus, we recently experienced social media incidents with legal and campus judicial implications and potential repercussions that were likely beyond the intentions of the individuals who posted the comments.  The students were charged criminally and received temporary suspensions pending a hearing.

Please think before you post and be mindful of the potential impact of what you say in all forms of communication, and particularly on social media.

I look forward to continued discussion on this important subject.

Very truly yours,

John A. Martone
Vice President for Student Development