RSO leaders warn members about social media use, inappropriate photos

In a recent Student Government Association meeting, leaders reminded members to refrain from taking part in photos that bring negative attention to the organization. 

Sophomore Ben Page-Gil, public relations senator for SGA said that in the meeting the executive Vice President Tierney Keller talked about the high expectations the association has for its members.

“We can be seen as role models to the students here at the University of Delaware, and we just want to be held at that high standard and not have any images on Facebook depicting any drinking, partying, anything of that sort,” Page-Gil said. 

SGA is an umbrella organization that works with other Registered Student Organizations on campus and, as a result, Page-Gil said he thinks other organizations look up to SGA. 

“We just want to show we have a lot of pride in what we do, and we just want to show that we are effective leaders,” he said.  

Page-Gil said individuals’ actions could impact an organization’s reputation, especially when that individual has an elected role in the group. As a communication student, he said that many of his professors emphasize that students never know who is looking at their social media.

He said many corporations also look into postings online. Page-Gil said companies look at potential employees’ social media, and, therefore, students need to present themselves in a professional manner. 

Communication professor Carolyn White Bartoo said every organization that exists has an image to maintain. 

“You don’t take out the hairy, scary cousin at Thanksgiving and say, ‘Give him a hug,’” Bartoo said. “You don’t pick your nose in a job interview.”

She said irresponsible online postings not only hurt a personal image, but that of their organization as well. 

If a photo that is online, she said it is not just an image of one person but rather a representation of the entire group. 

“You are the face, quite literally of your organization,” Bartoo said. “People don’t care that it’s you, you are now part of a group and being part of that, it’s important to just be sophisticated.” 

She said organizations should take further action than simply banning improper behavior. Instead, they should participate and offer sophisticated interactive training workshops, she said. 

“You don’t say, ‘Don’t do it.’ You say, ‘Here are the consequences if you do it,’” Bartoo said.  

The national managers of fraternities and sororities need to train students, she said.