Facebook Fiasco

The latest in a series of Facebook scandals involves one 18 year old Canadian university student and his ill-fated Facebook study group.

When Chris Avenir, an engineering student at Ryerson University, assumed the role of administrator of a Facebook study group to help stressed out students decode their cryptic problem sets, I doubt he thought that he would be facing 147 counts of academic misconduct and expulsion.

The fact is, the study group was a venue for student to offer tips on homework problem, some of which were meant to be done independently.

Students claim that the same type of study help takes place every day during in person study groups, but these meeting are not broadcasted on the world wide web.

This goes back to the old adage: if you are going to do it, at least do not post in on Facebook.

I give you, homework advise is a pretty benign form of . But toe the line in anyway on the book of Face, and if your endeavor becomes accrues more and more attention and membership, as the Ryerson study group is, you are asking for trouble.

I do however, believe that a certain misunderstanding exists between the two generations involved in this conflict. The professor and the Ryerson Administration genuinely feel as if an online cheating ring is being operated; Avenir and the other study group members believes truly that he is helping his fellow students in a way that is simply an extension of her normal social interaction within Facebook. While technically the University is in the right, I believe that the root of this problem and any similar future incidence is today's generation's all encompassing, blase utilization of Facebook to integrate all aspects of life.