If your college or university is thinking about making their mark in the blogosphere then you better read what’s been buzzing around some college campuses. I found an article this past week in The Chronicle of Higher Education discussing how to “combat gossip sites” such as Juicy Campus. Here’s a site that’s not afraid to allow users to open up and be heard. Unfortunately, this is the type of uncensored openness that institutions are fearful about.

According to The Chronicle of Higher Education, a typical thread on Juicy Campus lists the women at Baylor University as the “biggest sluts” and says the “biggest cocaine users” are at Southern Methodist University. This can be very damaging to an institution. What is to keep prospective students and parents from searching through the site to read about a college or university that interests them? The biggest issue college administrators have about campus blogging is the fear of negative comments or posts.

Blogging is a great method to allow students and faculty members to express themselves. It gives prospective students great insights and another way to experience campus life without even having to step foot on campus. The question becomes how much freedom should the bloggers have and what policies should be in place regarding content?

Well, what if the college or university has no control over what is said? Some may argue that as long as lawyers don’t contact them then they shouldn’t be filtered at all. I would agree if a college picks the right students to blog and they are trained properly.

On Juicy Campus there are no restrictions – anything goes. All posts are anonymous which gives even more incentive for individuals to speak their mind.

Luckily, I did a search for Mount Union College and didn’t find anything.

Checkout the following YouTube video for a student’s take on Juicy Campus.