John Carroll University has established a fan page on facebook to provide an avenue to connect with the campus community as well as fans and friends of the varsity athletic programs.
The page can be accessed off the jcusports.com website under the fan zone section, or by typing
http://www.facebook.com/jcusports in the address window
"Facebook is an 'opt-in' channel in which we can promote upcoming events, highlight past events, and disperse news about John Carroll University athletics," said Chris Wenzler, Assistant Athletic Director of Communications."In this age of social networking, and with over 150 million active users on facebook, keeping people engaged to the happenings surrounding our intercollegiate athletic program through facebook is an extremely logical step forward in promoting our brand."
With the revision of social networking rules in late July by the NCAA Division III Management Council, institutions are now free to use such media as Facebook and Twitter to publicize game results and other athletics news.
The revised bylaw does not specify the types of information that may be transmitted by institutions, simply terming it “general athletics information.” But the Interpretations and Legislation Committee has suggested that it is the same type of information available to the public through a school's Web site, such as “general media reports, scores and other public information.”
Institutions and coaches still are prohibited from using social-networking media, as well as such tools as texting or instant messaging, to communicate personally with a specific prospect. Communication with prospects via phone, e-mail and fax continues to be permitted.
The Division III Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a prime force behind adoption of the 2008 legislation because of its stance that recruiting via electronic technology should be neither intrusive nor informal, supported the change. SAAC representatives on the Council said the original legislation's intent is preserved by the revised bylaw's requirement that prospects must be given the ability to decline receipt or “unsubscribe” from receiving information from an institution.
“Our original worry was with single text messages, which we felt were unprofessional and placed undue, one-on-one pressure on a student-athlete,” said Erin Wojtkun of Christopher Newport, one of SAAC's two Management Council members.
“We felt the restrictions in the new legislation, with no one-on-one contact and that it's general in nature, makes it a prospective student-athlete's choice to receive the message. We decided (social networking) is a new technology and it's how new students are getting information. So, we don't want to close it off, because we want as many Division III athletes as possible to learn what it really means to be a Division III athlete.”
John Carroll athletics can also be followed through Twitter at the jcusports.com website under the fan zone section, or by typing http://twitter.com/JCUSports in the address window. Twitter and facebook can also be accessed through most cell phone browsers.
