USA TODAY: Facebook pages concern parents of college freshmen

[fhimas88888888]

<p>

As housing officials at colleges around the country send out roommate assignments to freshmen this summer, a growing number of schools say they’re getting more requests for changes — from parents who don’t like the roommates’ Facebook profiles.</p>

<p>“They were getting an impression — false or accurate — of what the student would be like to live with,” says Magda Manetas of The College of New Jersey in Ewing.</p>

<p>About a dozen other colleges contacted by USA TODAY report similar complaints. And this may be just the beginning: Some schools already have mailed roommate assignments for fall, but many more say they will be sending them out in the next few weeks.

</p>

<p><a href=“http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2007-08-07-facebook-housing_N.htm?POE=click-refer[/url]”>http://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/internetlife/2007-08-07-facebook-housing_N.htm?POE=click-refer&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

[ChamilitaryMayne]

<p>damn i’d hate to have parents like that…</p>

[AUlostchick]

<p>I read that article. Parents like that are awful. They ought to know by now that colleges aren’t going to change their kid’s roommate just because the roommate is Hispanic, or gay, or Muslim.</p>

[steevee]

<p>What a way to teach your children to learn to deal with the real world.</p>

[collegelyfe4me]

<p>true story. happened to me.</p>

[mme-lin]

<p>

Housing officials say parents who cite Facebook most frequently mention party-related content and photos as their primary concerns. Parents sometimes see cups in photos and make the leap to alcohol and drugs, Manetas says…</p>

<p>But Robin Berkowitz-Smith of Syracuse University says race, religion and sexual orientation are the top three concerns from parents contacting officials there… </p>

<p>Wark recalls getting a call from a parent who had “psychological and sanitary concerns” about a student’s new roommates, both of whom were gay men.

:rolleyes:</p>

[DeluxeHardballer]

<p>It gave me the wrong impression of my roomate. I thought he was a serious intellectual. Instead, he’s a lazy and scatter-brained.</p>

[sun_surf_N_sand]

<p>that’ ■■■■■■■■
going to college is all about experiencing new things, new people, new ways of living…how to deal with the real world
it’s not for your parents to keep you in a bubble…</p>

[Central_Perky]

<p>This is why I don’t have a Facebook. People make too many false assumptions about you.</p>

[It_sGr82BeAGator]

<p>Yep, I’d rather met people in real life. For all I know, they could be lying on their Facebook. That’s why I don’t have one.</p>

[CK61188]

<p>Something that really bothers me is when parents meddle in a college. Yes, many help pay, yes, it’s their son or daughter’s education, but for God’s sake! Your kid is in college now and needs to learn to deal with things on their own, you need to let them grow up. </p>

<p>It’s not just housing though. When I suggested changes for course curriculum for a required course, they said it wasn’t possible to make those changes because parents would throw a fit, even though many students I know have agreed the changes are good. The changes would’ve enabled students to learn independently and accelerate their learning, which would benefit them in future courses. It’s an honors program, these students are highly motivated and are willing to do this. But parents claim it won’t give everyone a level field since some students have had more exposure to the material in HS than others. So what? Let us learn as we wish! (By the way, it was a CS course, and I don’t know a thing about computers, so i’m not biased)</p>

[atlantiz]

<p>LAME! i hope the colleges dont change the roomates around. at least live with them for a little first…</p>

<p>…guess what? i facebooked my roommate last year to check him out. ZOMG he’s gay?! yes, i will admit that i was kinda iffy about him, but that is only b/c i never lived with a gay person nor have i really known that many in my life so i was unsure. even then, i just went in with an open mind when i moved in and i have to say he’s a pretty damn good roommate and we respected each other. i wouldnt mind if i had to live with him again</p>