Privacy on Campus

Kylie Potuznik, a student in Jon Pfeiffer's Fall 2012 Media Law class at Pepperdine University, wrote the following essay in response to the question: "As a college student, what privacy rights do you expect on campus? In the classroom? In your dorm room?"

Privacy is not a word that my mother seems to have in her personal dictionary. I grew up in a home where I was extremely monitored, and no matter how hard I tried my mother somehow always knew everything. I was never able to keep a secret, surprise her for her birthday, or be on Facebook when I was "supposed to be studying." Most of our fights started with me begging her for just a little bit of privacy, her response was always along the lines of "I'm your mother, you don't get privacy from me."

When I went away to college I was overjoyed by the possibility of privacy. I would say that as a college student I expected a lot of privacy on campus. I expect that people will mind their own business, won't snoop around in others' lives, won't stalk me, won't hack into my Facebook or e-mail, and won't go through my phone as soon as I leave the room. I am an extremely private person unless I feel comfortable with someone and can trust them. Once I trust someone, anything I know they know.

I feel like I don't really expect much privacy in the classroom. I would hope that people wouldn't pry too deeply into my personal life unless I have already opened up the discussion, and I would hope for privacy with my grades and performance in the class.

In my dorm room, on the other hand, I would expect the most privacy. I don't want people snooping through my things, moving or organizing things, or looking through my papers, planner or phone. My room is the only thing that I have to decorate or call my own, I wouldn't want people coming in and disrespecting my home or me by invading my privacy.

Again, I am a very private person, but as soon as we become friends there are basically no privacy issues what is mine is yours (besides my food!).