Hi - I’m a parent of a student at Tufts and I’m really concerned about this and want your opinion.
Last year a parent started a parents’ Facebook group for Tufts since there wasn’t one. She tried for a few months to get the school to publicize the group…after about five months she contacted someone who was willing to do so, but he also asked to be made an admin of the group. No issues - the group went on as usual with parents discussion all kinds of issues, supporting each other, answering questions, etc.
This year a new crop of freshman parents joined and apparently there were some problems with the dorms being dirty, so there were some complaints about it posted in the Facebook group. Some parents apparently called housing as well.
Suddenly, without warning, the Tufts rep who was a co-admin of the group changed the settings so that no posts could be made without the approval of an admin. And, he deleted a post or two with other complaints. He did not tell anyone he was changing the rules nor why. However, he did update the description of the group to say “posts will be pre-screened and require approval.” But the update wasn’t apparent until you go to the description and read it (which is also funny, because usually any updates to a group description appear at the top of the group.)
Now, Tufts is a very activist school and ironically, none of the official student groups are censored or posts screened in any way. But here it is, move-in weekend, and parents can no longer post in the parent group without permission. It has left a bad taste in the mouth of many of the participating parents.
A few parents have tried to reach this guy by phone and email but have not been successful thus far.
I’m personally so disappointed in these actions and feel sad for the message it sends, but don’t really know what else to do except ask for opinions here.
Sounds really extreme and would anger me, too. What is this, China?
I’d go over his head to whomever he reports to and bump it up from there. Seems like an ill-conceived and shortsighted move on his part. Don’t tick off the parents who you are soliciting donations from in addition to paying tuition!
The other option would be to start a new group for unedited and uncensored discussion.
I still follow and occasionally participate in the parents facebook page of one of my kids’ schools even though he graduated years ago. It’s a fun, active group, and only once do I recall a problem that really required admin intervention. The head of admissions posts on that page occasionally, but no school staff have admin privileges on the facebook page. Tufts is far too progressive for this kind of nonsense.
Sounds really extreme and would piss me off, too. What is this, China?
I’d go over his head to whomever he reports to and bump it up from there. Seems like a ill-advised move on this guys part. Don’t piss of the parents who you are hitting up for donations in addition to tuition!
The other option would be to start a new group for unedited and uncensored discussions.
Thanks for your input all. A parent did actually call the president’s office and was told that they would “pass on their concerns.” Several of us wrote emails. Maybe starting a new group is a good option.
There may already be
“…a non-sanctioned Tufts Parents Facebook group just launched and you can invite yourself and other Tufts parents to join. It is a closed group. (Note: I’m still attempting to connect with someone at Tufts to help administer this page officially, but until this happens, look for “Tufts Parents” on Facebook and join!)”
Thing is, I thought many colleges reserved the right to object to content directly negative. Can’t find an example but aren’t there TOS for the student FB pages?
Wow I really hope this picks up more visibility. I can understand dorms being a bit grimy (brother’s dorm had mold one year), but for admins to just silence the whole group is awful.
Unfortunately this is one of those things where Tufts / group admins can do whatever they want. Best create your own group and invite everyone from the old group to join yours with a clear message of what the old admins have done.
This might be a much more grey area as this facebook group wasn’t initially started by Tufts and the participants are parents who unlike students aren’t subjected to the jurisdiction of Tufts’ student regulations/TOS about Tufts administered computer networks or social media/computer accounts.
Tufts might try the tact of using their exclusive right to the “Tufts” name, but I’m wondering(resident lawyers…especially IP lawyers please chime in) if this may be a nonstarter due to fair use.
Not to mention a good way to dig themselves such a deep hole that even Davy Jones’ locker would be several hundred fathoms above them…
@lookingforward - the one you reference in your post is the one I’m talking about. That post was made before a rep from Tufts joined and became an admin. @homessd I had originally posted this on the CC Parents’ Page precisely for that visibility reason and to get broader opinions but it got moved here where it may not be seen as much although I think there is still a link in the Parents section. @cobrat there is nothing legally preventing anyone from criticizing or lauding any institution on a FB page. It’s the opposite - free speech is protected. No one is inciting violence.
It just seems tiring to start a new group and how would we communicate it - private message everyone? Certainly the admin of the current group won’t allow a post about an alternative group to go through!
Yes, use a group messenger message to the members of the current group to invite them to the new, parent managed private group. And if the staff/administrators from Tufts ask to join don’t invite them. That seems petty but an unfortunate necessity.
No worries. A new group has been started. I don’t think I’m allowed to publicize it here though, right? No links allowed? It’s called Tufts University Parents (the old group is just “Tufts Parents.”) Messages were sent to some folks but I think Facebook shuts that down after awhile because of suspecting spamming. Everyone who has been message has joined and is very supportive though.
@GossamerWings Perhaps you can enlist some of the other parents to help you invite others to join from the old group. If each of you sends some messages, perhaps it won’t be picked up by facebook as spamming.
Will do. What are other ways to promote the new page? Any ideas? Is it okay to start a new post in this group about it, but without the actual link? Thanks!
You can just grow it organically. Both schools our kids attend have Facebook pages for parents, and they grow on their own over time. Parents tell other parents, and in a year or two it grows more quickly. You can also IM the current members of the sight and discuss next steps. You could create a new one that is run by parents, and all switch as a group. lol
To me, the best about an “unofficial group” is that it is not overseen by the school, so you can discuss honest concerns with other real parents. If your kid has an issue, it is good to know whether it is just them or many others have the issue. It may impact how you deal with the problem.
