Republican Candidates Dominate Facebook

If “liking” a political candidate on Facebook is any indication of how active users of the world’s largest social network will vote Nov. 2, Republicans could be in for a landslide victory. Will the so called “engagement and enthusiasm gap” seen on facebook translate into voter turnout? This article provides an analysis of a potentially new way to predict elections. (10/29/10 ABC News, Devin Dwyer) … Read Article

1. What indicators, according to Professor Heather LaMarre, are highly correlated to voter turnout?

2. How has GOP members of Congress exploited social media since 2008?

Is It All Right to Snoop on Your Child Online?

According to a survey released by the Internet privacy company TRUSTe, 10 percent of parents admitted they secretly logged in to their kids’ Facebook accounts. Why would parents want to have access to their children’s online account? What are the pros and cons of the cyber monitoring? This article sheds light on what experts think about cyber control. (10/20/10 ABCNews, Ki Mae Heussner) … Read article

1. What advice did Monica Vila give to parents regarding online monitoring of their children?

2. How are parents to handle the conflicting values of protection and trust when it comes to cyber control?

Texas Law Requires Public Universities to Post Class Information Online

Under a new Texas law, beginning this fall semester all public universities will be required to provide an array of free, detailed and public information on their websites about courses, professors and the cost of attending school. (8/14/10 ABC News On Campus, Travis Measley) … Read Article

1. Under the new Texas law, what detail information are professors required to provide in the syllabi online?

2. What are the disadvantages of the new Texas law for both professors and students?

Drake University Senior Charged With Fraternity Assault

A Drake University senior has been charged with sexual abuse after allegedly drugging a fraternity brother and taking pictures and videos of the assaults, police said. (8/6/10 ABC News, Ray Sanchez) … Read Article

1. How did the victim know that he has been assaulted by his fraternal brother?

2. What other fraternity assault case has Drake University been known for?

Google to Face Off With Facebook?

With the recent news of Google’s plans to create a social networking site that could rival Facebook, many people have wondered how any site could overthrow the social-media giant. (8/4/10 ABC News On Campus, Amy Rigby and Danielle Waugh) … Read Article

1. According to the article, what do college students spend hours doing on Facebook?

2. What are some specific criticisms of Facebook by college students, according to the article? What will make a college student abandon Facebook for a counterpart by Google?

(Poll)Polisci Students’ Opinion on Wikileaks

In a recent poll, we asked MPSL students if they approve or disapprove of Wikileaks’ download of massive war documents. The result: about 35% of the students responding said they approve of Wikileaks’ action; about 36% disapprove; while about 29% said they are not sure. Results were retrieved on 8/8/10, 8:00 PM PST.

Some critics believe that “Wikileaks” download of 90,000 documents on Afghanistan war poses a danger to national security.  What do you think?

Supreme Court Upholds Search of Sexy Texting

The Supreme Court had a common-sense message Thursday for workers with cell phones and other gadgets provided by their employers: Use your own cell phone if you’ve got something to text that you don’t want your boss to read. (6/17/10 Associated Press, Mark Sherman) … Read Article

1. “… Justice Anthony Kennedy did make clear that governments can check to be sure their employees are following the rules.” Discuss your opinion of Justice Kennedy’s statement.

2. Do you agree with the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that Quon’s constitutional right was violated? Why or why not?

BP’s Damage Control: PR Online

Be careful where you click, especially if you’re looking for news on the BP oil spill. BP, the very company responsible for the oil spill that is already the worst in U.S. history, has purchased several phrases on search engines such as Google and Yahoo so that the first result that shows up directs information seekers to the company’s official website. (6/5/10 ABC News, Emily Friedman) … Read Article

1. According to Kevin Ryan, the CEO of California-based Motivity Marketing, BP’s fierce PR campaign is smart. But is it right? Is buying these terms ethical? What do you think?

2. Discuss your opinion of Louisiana  Governor’s criticism of BP’s PR campaign.

(Video)Star Speakers Advise Graduating Class of 2010

Job prospects are bleak for 2010 college graduates due to the worst economic year since the great depression. Some famous speakers gave advice to the class of 2010. (5/30/10 CBSNewsOnline)

1. What is the realtionship between the first speaker and the last speaker on the video?

2. How many star speakers were featured in the video? Michelle Obama and Jill Biden paint a picture of globalization for the class of 2010. Discuss how they did this in their advise.

(Video)SEC Faces Porn Scandal

In the midst of a financial meltdown, employees at the SEC were surfing for pornography while on the clock, some for up to eight hours a day. Sen. Chuck Grassley talks about the investigation. (4/23/10 CBS News)

1. Senator Grassley said the public has the right to know the names of the SEC employees caught in the porn scandal. What do you think, should these people’s names be released to the public? Why or why not?

2. Do you agree with Senator Grassley that “heads should roll” in order for other public employees to learn from the bad behavior of these SEC employees?