BLOG SAFELY

Many students and prospective students use blogs to connect with their classmates. While these connections can be valuable and important, some students unwittingly put information on blogs that could potentially bring harm to them. Below is some advice on safely using blogs:

• When you register for a blog, please carefully read and fill out the privacy information on the site. The privacy page is typically found through a link on the main registration page. You can usually set your preferences to restrict who can access your information.
  
  
• Be careful about posting pictures on a blog. What may seem funny to you today, could prove embarrassing to you in the future. Postings may be available in cyberspace for an unlimited time and may be difficult to remove should you decide you want to do so at a later date.
  
  
• You never know who, while surfing a blog, will read your post. If employers or potential employers, family members, or others read what you wrote, how would they react? How would you feel if you knew they read what you wrote?
  
  
• Be advised that you should not divulge personal information on a blog. You should refrain from entering your full name, address, telephone number or other identifying information on a blog as you never know who might come across your post.
  
  
• Students have reported reading hurtful comments about themselves on blogs. As members of the St. Thomas community, we have a responsibility to treat one another with respect and dignity on campus, off campus and in cyberspace. Students who write disparaging remarks about other members of the community on a blog may be subject to disciplinary action.
  
  
• Please remember that it is not appropriate to post copyrighted material on a blog.
  
  
• The University of St. Thomas has no relationship with blogs established for student connections, although some sites use “St. Thomas” as an identifier or group. Such sites are not monitored or endorsed by the University. Inappropriate use of “St. Thomas” as an identifier on a blog that discredits the university may be subject to disciplinary action. See Acceptable Use Guidelines/Unacceptable Use Policy and Data Privacy Statement Web site, http://www.stthomas.edu/irt/Policies/ComputerUsage.htm and review the expectations of students attending the University found in the student handbook.