A new way to reveal problems about the University became available on the Internet. It is called #MUProblems, which is a trend on the social media website known as Twitter.
Twitter is a site that gives individuals the opportunity to share and discover what is important to them. “Find out what’s happening, right now, with the people and organizations you care about,” says the Twitter homepage in an attempt to attract users.
By “tweeting” or posting an update to the #MUProblems trend page, students have the ability to state their feelings and comment on instances that occurred at the University. The trend has been used by students to tweet about their course load, the teaching skills of the professors, the wireless Internet, tuition money, food and parking. #MUProblems is a trend that speaks about the negative aspects of the University.
MU is an acronym for different schools, such as Marshall University, so the trend #MUProblems is not limited to solely Monmouth University. Many of the tweets are focused on those schools. However, @MnmthUProblems is a twitter page created specifically for Monmouth University students and faculty. It is not a trend page; rather, it is a separate twitter identity.
“Monmouth should definitely look over the site, if they haven’t already, and take note of things that bother stu dents,” said Nicolette Dimucci, a sophomore at the University. “To please a student, you need to think like one.”
The health and welfare of the University’s student body is promoted by the Student Government Association (SGA). Nicole Levy, President of SGA, said that she guarantees that SGA will begin to look at the Twitter page now that it has been brought to their attention.
More and more students will be likely to use Twitter as a tool to get their opinions heard because it is quick and simple. Levy said that Twitter pages involving the University are a positive thing. “One of our biggest problems is that we can’t get students to talk to us about what they would like to change, but something as easily as tweeting can be the solution,” she said.
Mary Anne Nagy, Vice President of Student Services, said that she finds #MUProblems to be an acceptable way for University students to share their concerns. However, she also recommends voicing those concerns to people who can help.
“I think the appropriate use of any social media tool to express a concern is fine,” Nagy said. “I would also encourage students that have a concern about something on campus to share that information with those who might be able to address their concern. My office is a good place to start, since all of us may not be on Twitter.”
“As long as the language is appropriate, I don’t see it as something that is bad,” Nagy added. “We want to understand what our students are thinking about and how we can continue to improve the experience of our students.”
Mary Harris, a Specialist Professor of Communication, said that she had not heard of #MUProblems before. However, she still wants students to be mindful of what they post on the Internet.
“I don’t believe that a single Twitter page with some complaints can necessarily harm a University’s reputation,” Harris said. “However, I think that students should be cautious with the content they post in order to protect themselves. It is one thing to verbally share opinions with friends through conversation; it is another thing to put your opinions in writing and share them with an open audience.”
Students find trouble noticing the good things about the University and tweet more about the negative aspects on #MUProblems, Dimucci said. “It’s interesting that there isn’t any trend on Twitter about the positive things about Monmouth,” she added. “People are so quick to notice the negative things that they forget about the good things about our campus.”
Mike Migliaro, the sophomore senator of SGA, said he does not think the #MUProblems trend is a negative or positive thing for the school. “I remember reading one of the tweets and it was said I was attacked by a squirrel #MUProblems,” Migliaro said. He said that it is just a place for students to make hu morous remarks at a “common occurrence on the campus.”
Migliaro also said that he is a frequent user of Twitter and checks it multiple times per day.
“I use Twitter if I have something to say and just want to put it out to the public; whether people read what I have to say or not, I just feel better knowing I voiced my opinion to someone,” Dimucci said.
Levy also is a member of Twitter. “I personally follow Twitter and tweet my own problems at them, and often read what others are saying.”
