‘Negative’ Facebook Post Gets Student Barred From Commencement

June 1, 2011, 4:12 pm

A student has been barred from commencement in part because of comments he made on the Facebook page of Saint Augustine’s College, in North Carolina. The penalty has raised the ire of a national civil-liberties group.

The apparent offending comment—a “negative social-media exchange,” as the college put it—concerned Saint Augustine’s handling of recovery from tornado damage. The student, Roman Caple, posted this remark ahead of a meeting scheduled to discuss the recovery: “Here it go!!!!! Students come correct, be prepared, and have supporting documents to back up your arguments bcuz SAC will come hard!!!!”

The college’s retribution was condemned this week by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a civil-liberties group. “While it promises free speech, Saint Augustine’s College has apparently rolled out a brand new, unwritten ‘don’t challenge our decisions on Facebook’ rule that warrants keeping a student out of graduation ceremonies,” said Robert Shibley, the foundation’s senior vice president. “It’s hard to think of a pettier way to punish a loyal, graduating student for publicly disagreeing with administrators.”

Saint Augustine’s confirmed the student’s punishment in a written statement. “It was determined that the comments made to the page by Mr. Caple, coupled with other comments he made to select individuals, were designed for the sole purpose of inciting students to react to the college’s continued efforts to manage a difficult situation,” said LaToya Sutton, a spokeswoman. “At a time when the college staff was working diligently to ensure the well-being of all students, Mr. Caple, a senior, chose to attempt to create chaos.”

Despite the punishment, the student still got his cap and gown and officially graduated.

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katenonymous

I must be missing something. Based on the post quoted, Caple was telling students to formulate arguments and back them up with documentation. That’s more responsible activism than we see from a lot of people outside that environment. What were they punishing him for, again?
http://twitter.com/mikepetroff Mike Petroff

Thanks for the follow-up article – we wrote about this on .eduGuru in early May - http://doteduguru.com/id7003-student-banned-from-commencement-because-of-facebook-post.html
jabberwocky12

“Here it go!!!!! Students come correct, be prepared, and have
supporting documents to back up your arguments bcuz SAC will come
hard!!!!”

Can somebody please translate the comment into English? (I’m not being sarcastic, I have read this comment many times and have no idea what it means. Perhaps something was lost from the context).
jffoster

Well, if a little pee-in-the-weeds (? deservedly ?) obscure college is unheard of, that’s one way to get publicity. Suspect that wasn’t what they had in mind.
sryan12

It’s a ceremony; they didn’t hold his degree. He’s not going to jail. Freedom of speech doesn’t mean that there are no repercussions from what one says. He’s responsible for what he said (whatever he said). I agree with Jacbberwocky12.
jem2222

If the quotation shown is an example of the student’s writing ability, he should not only be barred from commencement, his degree should not even be awarded!
MarjoryMunson

What better way to get your disaster plans and implementation noticed! This is probably not what they wanted, but it worked anyway.
http://www.facebook.com/sylvar Ben Ostrowsky

Translation: “This is it! Students, let’s do this properly: prepare your arguments on the topic and bring proof of your assertions, because Saint Augustine’s College intends to dominate the discussion.”
jabberwocky12

Thanks very much, Ben.
martisco

Maybe they’re punishing him because they’re embarrassed that they’re giving a degree to someone with so little command of the English language.
joemontibello

sryan’s right about the student’s responsibility, but I think the point here isn’t that the student has any legal claims, or that his legal right to free speech was violated.

I have no idea what the other comments were “to other individuals,” or what other undisclosed factors (mentioned in the college’s press release) were involved. Based only on the info available in the story and the press release, this seems like a bad idea on the College’s part.

Intellectually, the student ought to be able to make this statement in any venue (such as facebook) where the college solicits student opinion. From a PR standpoint, making a public stand against the graduating student only helps the student’s attempts to challenge the college. I don’t see that they gained anything by barring him from commencement (unless they thought he was going to disrupt the ceremony).
michpat

After watching social media at work effectively in other nations these days, perhaps the school’s administrators were fearful. What a frightful lesson, example and message to send to all students on the liberties that are the bedrock of American history and civic engagement.
socafish

It’s a second language that you obviously have not studied – see Ben Ostrowsky’s comment. For all you know his command of English is as good or better than yours.
michpat

While we are free to smirk at the lad’s use of Social media-speak and suggest he should expect “repercussions” for his speech, I wonder what lessons the young man’s efforts hold for his critics, most of whom very likely have never organized an outspoken challenge to their own direct authorities, other than in the most passive-aggressive manner.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cherissegardner Cherisse Gardner

Seriously? Are this many people (academics at that) this socially illiterate, this clueless when it comes to youth-speak? Best wise up or you may find you own kids online saying anything to anybody and you wouldn’t have enough of a clue to protect their safety if & when the situation arises.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cherissegardner Cherisse Gardner

It was not, it was merely the kind of familiar language one uses with one’s peers in that particular medium/situation (Facebook). You’re an educated person, you should get that. If you simply wish to disparage this student you should be more honest in making your point.
cb_10

Saint Augustine are embarrassing themselves. The student was not “inciting” anything other than being prepared to address the college’s arguments. As a result, they’ve taken away the student’s opportunity to march with his fellow graduates, and the student’s family the chance to share in that celebration.

I have nothing but contempt for their reactionary, ill-thought “punishment.” The ones who should be disciplined are the decision makers who managed the remarkably inept combination of unfairly sanctioning a student while getting his remarks 10 times the attention they’d ever have otherwise. Not their finest hour.
tenn8

Slightly off topic, but….
I think the point of youth-speak – or any language designed to be different from the primary language – is so that it is only understood by that community. If everyone understood youth-speak, the youth would be forced to change it up again… lets not waste their time. And if we have done a good job of teaching and parenting, we should be comfortable that youth can use youth-speak without being monitored.
http://twitter.com/jeepdweller Ben Filla

Based on this article, I’m wondering how long until Saint Augustine overturns their decision. Too late for walking, but not for an apology.

I wouldn’t want to send my kids to a school that does this sort of thing to a family…guessing since it’s a smaller school it’s personal?
rhorvath

POOR AND ONE-SIDED REPORTING. Marc Perry did not pamper us with information. His reporting focuses on the “ire” of civil rights groups, and an exact quote of the student’s statement in question is missing. Mr. Perry could have provided a link to it, which he assiduously did when it came to the the college’s response (not a masterpiece of specific information either).

Mr. Perry seems to have written his article to confuse readers.

Political Correctness is holding higher education in a choke hold too. Yes, responsibility for what I say is mine, but we have a thing in this country called the Constitution. Local, or even national authorities should not be able to overwrite it. They have been, in the last few decades.

By the way, the college also exercises free speech, and its letter clearly states that Roman Caple invaded into personal territory. Yes, you are entitled to visit the bathroom, but don’t use my backyard.
bekka_alice

Oh my. It’s almost as if a student were to expect that multi-sided discourse were the norm for polite company (in whatever argot takes the day). Thank heavens the college is here to teach the student that there is no such thing as freedom of speech, and that there are always consequences to having an opinion – quite true.
3rdtyrant

Perhaps it would have suited an academic ideal more perfectly had the university formulated its own arguments and been ready to defend what was defensible and admit what was not, learn from this and move forward a better institution. This seems like the adult way of handling it, but admission of fault has always been anathema to administration.
joemontibello

The student’s exact quote is in the college’s response, which Parry links to.

The constitution does mention free speech. “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” I don’t see how this applies to a private college.

The letter clearly states that the message was on the College’s Facebook page. Facebook is a public medium where the college encourages people to comment. The bathroom analogy is false. Imagine instead, the College encourages students to put their opinions up on a corkboard somewhere on campus, and then starts disciplining students for their disruptive comments. The college has the legal right to do that.

But having the right to do it doesn’t make it right to do it.
jem2222

When I Google “Youth-speak”, I don’t find anything about this “alternative” language. Anybody got any references?
katisumas

Thanks!
http://www.facebook.com/jotbox Paul Leader

“You have the right to free speech, as long as you’re not dumb enough to actually try it…..” The Clash “Know your Rights”
akprof

I had no idea what he was trying to say either!!
11272784

Comment retracted.
wayne_detzler

For students this is a no win situation. Recently we allowed students to complete an anonymous evaluation of faculty, and the faculty cried FOUL. One older prof even insulted the students’ character for their “cowardly criticism.” Now Roman Caple identifies himself via Facebook with criticism, and he is barred from commencement.

As Pope John Paul XXIII commented about his church: “We need to open the windows and let a little air in.” It seems to me that we of the academic establishment need to let a lot of air into our decision-making processes.

How else will students learn needed life skills?
coco_rico

It’s not so much a free-speech issue. It’s a contract issue. The student paid four years of tuition and the college cannot summarily withhold an important benefit like graduation based on frivolous differences of opinion with the student. That would be like me taking your money to plan your wedding then not letting you come to your wedding because you said something about me on facebook. I have to give you the money back or else deliver the service. He should sue.
journaleditor

Honestly, you all! I’m 73 years old and I understood the message clearly.

He’s telling the students to “get all their ducks in a row” (that’s an older idiom for “get organized, have your facts correct”), to be well prepared to back up their claims or grievances because the administration is taking a strong stand for whatever their proposal is.

Maybe my texting with high-school and college grandchildren has been a good thing–or not? As my name indicates, I”m an academic journal copy editor and quite rigid about scholarly communication rules. But not everybody communicates that way all the time.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cherissegardner Cherisse Gardner

We should also keep in mind that he was talking to his peers, not the administration.
isalaur

It is not a contract issue. He was not prevented from graduating or receiving his degree. The article clearly states he received his degree. He was barred from participating in the commencement exercises which are a school function that the school has the right to dictate the rules for. You do not have a “right” to participate in school activities. You have to agree to abide by a set of rules the institution deems appropriate. For example, the school mandates wearing academic garb to the commencement exercises. I don’t hear anyone screaming about free speech dress code violations!

While I think in this case it was short sighted of the administration to take this stand we do not know the full story of what occurred. Did the student personally threaten members of the school faculty/staff? (“comments he made to select individuals”) Did he treaten to disrupt the commencement proceedings? This was not just about the facebook post and we don’t know the entire history here. It is entirely likely that the school’s statement is vague b/c of concerns about privacy rules/FERPA.
drjeff

I’m nothing like a Catholic, but I got a grin from your JP23 quotation. It’s refreshing to see the truth that, in some regards, academia can learn from their church, rather than just bashing it.
panacea

Let’s get real. Being subject to repercussions for what one says is not a license to bully a student in order to suppress dissent.

No threats were made. No profanity was used. No insults were thrown. The college was out of line. Period.
609zr

I have been censored twice in one week by the CHE. I guess SAC and the CHE have something in common. Welcome to communist China.
609zr

If your comment is an example of a professor’s ability to understand “student speak,” you should be barred from teaching.
music_librarian

It’s Pope John XXIII, isn’t it? Or John Paul II? Probably not JP the first…
jem2222

Sorry, Cherisse. I am unashamed to admit that I am unfamiliar with the argot of Facebookers. Is the incompetent use of language something to be condoned? My point was quite honest. The quotation is an example of bad English. It is that which I was disparaging.
jem2222

Dear 19428a. As I said in my reply to Cherisse, “I am unashamed to admit that I am unfamiliar with the argot of Facebookers”. I certainly agree with you that I should be barred from teaching “student speak”. Of course, I was never planning to do so anyway.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cherissegardner Cherisse Gardner

It is slang, not to be condoned or condemned. This student’s mode of expression was clearly intentional so I doubt this is a case of incompetence but choice based on their chosen context.
richardtaborgreene

It is important to attend a college where at least some of the administrators are more educated than some of the students.
jamesrovira

I think he shouldn’t be allowed to graduate because he can’t write. If St. Augustine’s administration feels threatened by this student…egad.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/cshunt312 Courtney Hunt

There is indeed much more to the story than what was reported here. A quick search on “roman caple” (capital letters intentionally omitted, grammarians!) produces pages of results, and very little of the coverage (none?) casts St. Augustine’s actions in a positive light. All things considered, this is a great example of what not to do, and another entry in the growing Digital Era Hall of Shame.
camgray

To jem2222 you should check the book The Language of Youth Subcultures by Sue Widdicome in case you are seriously asking about references.
mmcferrin1616

I’m not sure the college is familiar with Facebook as a medium. If it is looking for erudite discourse and well thought out perspectives, Saint Augustine has gone to the wrong place. It’s not as if the student nailed his treatise to the Provost’s office door with his shoe in defiance. If the only challenge the school had to their disaster recovery was a Facebook post, I say count it as a win and move on.