LAWFUEL – Latest from Newsweek – Senior Editor Steven Levy reports
that Facebook, the wildly popular networking site among college students,
has grown up and has also become a tool for people who are no longer
students. Twenty three-year-old Mark Zuckerberg, the Harvard dropout that
started the site, explains that Facebook is not a social-networking site
but a “utility,” a tool to facilitate the information flow between users;
it is not just for college students, and it is a world-changing idea of
unlimited potential. Facebook’s COO, Owen Van Natta, is confident that the site can change the world of 30-, 40- and 50-year-olds the way it has on campus. Citing the company’s new unofficial motto-it’s not just students-he says, “Facebook did not change college life, but it changed the lives of the early adopters … many of whom were in college. We’re entering a phase where every single day we have more people over 25 entering Facebook than any other demographic.”
“Why I Love It … ” (p. 44). Correspondent Kurt Soller discusses why
he loves Facebook. Since signing on to the site at the end of high school, the site has allowed him the freedom to build new relationships while still remaining in touch with old friends.
” … And Why I Hate It” (p. 45) On the opposite side of the love/ hate debate, Correspondent Sarah Kliff writes that although she understand the value of Facebook, she hates it. Kliff writes that the constant monitoring and updating takes up too much time that can be spent on more important things and it forces users to obsess over “dull details” rather than focus on connecting with others.
“The Green Campus” (p 60). Correspondent Anne Underwood reports on the new efforts by colleges, universities and their students to reduce their carbon footprint, reuse and recycle. In an effort to take the lead in going green, in June, 284 university presidents representing some of the nation’s most influential schools announced an agreement pledging to make their campuses “carbon neutral.” Students are also taking their roles seriously.
Some have created contests and events that highlight the benefits of being environmentally conscious, while others have voted for increases in their activities fees to help finance green initiatives.
“After Virginia Tech” (p. 70). National Correspondent Daniel McGinn
reports on how colleges and universities are boosting the reach of their
mental-health facilities in order to prevent tragedies such the shooting at Virginia Tech in April. According to a 2005 survey by the American College Health Association, four out of 10 college students said that at times they felt “so depressed it’s difficult to function.” Ten percent said they’d “seriously considered suicide”-which remains the third leading cause of death among college-age Americans (behind car accidents and homicides),
according to the American Association of Suicidology. Many schools have
implemented better networks for mental-health staff, reduced the wait time to see counselors and have made efforts to stress the point that it is normal to seek counseling when stress piles up.
“Is Your Campus Safe?” (p. 74). Los Angeles Bureau Chief Andrew Murr
reports that while almost every college says it has revamped security since the Virginia Tech shooting in April, it isn’t easy to find out exactly how.
A good place to find out how a school’s security staff is prepared to
handle an emergency is the campus police department. The presence of at
least some armed officers can be crucial in an emergency. If a school says it relies on municipal police, visit the station house to get a better idea of whether there’s an effective structure in place. Speaking with students is another good way of learning how well the campus security force responds
to calls.
