The social networking scene plays a large role in the average college student’s life. You will be hard pressed to find a student accessing a computer without checking his/her Facebook or Twitter account.
Lindenwood has seen the advantages of marketing themselves through these means of communication. Facebook and Twitter accounts are set up for various groups, clubs, athletic teams and schools.
Lists of these clubs can be found on the university website under social media.
It’s admirable of LU to try to keep up to speed with new trends that appeal to students.
Using social media gives the school a chance to connect with students using a different outlet. It could really open up an avenue where students and administration can openly discuss issues that students care about.
In my opinion, it is easier to discuss a pressing issue over a media outlet rather than setting up appointments, waiting around in an office and voicing your opinion for a couple of minutes.
By using social media, students could post their comment and wait to receive the administration response.
Sadly, LU falls short of my ideal image for these sites. The use of social media to broadcast LU’s news is managed well.
It is the student-to -administration communication that raises concern.
Along with this column, the Legacy ran a news piece on LU’s use of social media in this issue on Page 1. I didn’t like some of the answers our staff reporter got.
In his article, it states that LU has responded poorly using social media outlets to communicate with students in the “U.S. News and Word Report “story.
A member of the social media task force also told our staff reporter that “private issues can’t always be solved in a public form.”
I don’t know why LU would encourage students to address concerns but then not talk about them. If they really want to use this avenue of communicating with students, they need to open up communication.
Issues of excess speeding on campus, poor lighting and poor housing conditions are not private issues for just the administration to discuss.
These problems affect students, and their suggestions for improvement are the ones that really matter.
Social media allows students to open discussion about topics concerning the university. Let students voice how they feel and open up a discussion with them.
Don’t just respond with “Specific suggestions for improvement are always welcome.”
This feels like you’re giving us the cold shoulder.
Let us know what you’re going to do about it and how. The original thought was great. However, it still needs work.
The administration may run the show, but the students pay the bills. Let us play a role in making our campus better.