Athletes agree to a number of stipulations before they sign their contracts and receive their scholarship money. For example, they agree to restrictions on their substance use and gambling, as well as monitoring of their academics.
What they don't sign off on is censorship of their personal Web spaces.
With the advent of Facebook and MySpace, ethical concerns regarding student postings have abounded. And the latest Web-ethics watchdogs are the administrators in the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics. They've seen things on athletes' profiles they don't like, and they're threatening to take action if athletes don't put forth a better representation of the university.
But their backlash is an overdramatic reaction to behavior most college students engage in.
Threatening to disallow student-athletes from using Facebook all together unjustifiably disrespects their personal freedoms, and it holds them to expectations that were not previously explained to them.
Limiting student-athletes' behavior based on the Student-Athlete Handbook restrictions is entirely within the Athletics Departments' jurisdiction - just as the residence halls hold students accountable for the housing contracts they sign. But the handbook suggests only that student-athletes represent the university "with dignity and class on and off the field." It does not specify where the university draws the line between appropriate and inappropriate behavior, nor does it explain the repercussions for not behaving with "dignity and class."
Without clear and direct descriptions of what student-athletes are not allowed to do, it's unfair to hold them to such high standards. And without specific and detailed explanations of the punishment for certain behaviors, it's unfair for the university to restrict athletes' leisure activities and personal space.
If the department is concerned about its athletes' off-the-field behavior, administrators should be more explicit in wording departmental policies and more strict in enforcing them.
Taking away Facebook or restricting athletes' use of the Web site will not solve the problem; it'll just hide the symptoms.
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