Biola Responds to Likealittle.com

The presence of a Biola 'chapter' on the new social site prompts an open letter to students.

From the Office of Student Development

December 7, 2010

An Open Letter to Biola Students:

Within the last few days many people, both on and off campus, have asked about our response to the new social networking site called "Likealittle." If you are not familiar with it, Likealittle is a new application designed, according to their website, for "anonymous flirting." It has gotten quite a bit of media attention and a number of students on campus are using it. Some have suggested that we block access to the site due to inappropriate comments that have been posted there. We have discussed the issue with the leadership of AS and we agree that this is a teachable moment for our community. Here are a few thoughts that we would like for you to consider as the Biola University student body.

• Realize that all forms of communication, including anonymous electronic postings, should reflect Biblical principles of communication; i.e., using our words to build people up.

• While some students may believe this is simply innocent banter or an expression of "natural feelings," it is not encouraging a Christ-centered mindset or helping us to think appropriately or respectfully about our brothers and sisters.

• Rather than having Biola IT block the site because some students are using it inappropriately, we would like to challenge you to monitor it yourselves and live out our values as a Christ-centered community.

Here are a few practical suggestions...

• Hold each other accountable for abuses. If you flag comments that are inappropriate the site is pretty good about taking them down. You can also use the comment feature to respectfully address comments that are inappropriate. We have spoken to the current student-moderators of the site, and they have promised to work diligently to keep the site clean.

• Don't say things that are unkind, sexually suggestive, or characterized by sexual innuendo. One of the reported concerns is ‘innuendo-one-upsmanship,’ where each anonymous commenter pushes the conversation just a little further toward inappropriateness.

• Use humor that is uplifting and affirming, rather than suggestive and demeaning. Just because it’s funny doesn’t mean it’s appropriate, and just because it’s inappropriate doesn’t mean it’s funny.

• Remember that people from off campus are reading your conversations and making judgments about what we value as a community.

Our hope is that, when people who don't know us come across this site, they would leave with a very clear impression that we love Christ, that we love each other, and there is evidence that we are indeed being equipped in mind and character to impact the world for Jesus Christ.

In agreement,

Mr. John W. Back, Dean of Student Development
Mrs. Roe Dodgen, Advisor, Associated Students
Dr. John Tuttle, Director of Student Communications
The Associated Students Executive Leadership Team