As of Oct. 18, Peer Advisors had to terminate all existing
group chats with their residents and amongst themselves.
In a message sent to all Peer Advisors, Residential Life
Coordinators shut down the use of GroupMe and all other social media platforms
that Peer Advisors used to directly communicate with their residents, except
for direct texting and emails. Coordinators cited potential violation of FERPA
and other privacy laws as their reason for taking this action in an email sent
to PAs.
“PAs are still encouraged to utilize GroupMe, Residential
Life Director Catherine Bourne said. “The recent change is just the adding of
professional staff in the groups.”
Several PAs have deleted their group chats entirely, while
others have deleted and recreated them with a professional staff member
present. Freshman Rishika Rakwalsaid her PA deleted and then created a new one
with an added staff member.
“Now, nobody besides our PA talks in the groupchat,” Rakwal
said.
Peer Advisors are also no longer allowed to have any social
media groups amongst themselves without a professional staff member present. If
supervisors hear of these groups still existing, PAs will be subject to
disciplinary action. Only direct text messaging is permissible, according to
the email.
“Professional staff members are only being included in
groups that are in scope of the PA position and Housing,” Bourne said.