ENMU Athletics recognizes and supports its student-athletes’ rights to freedom of speech, expression, and association, including the use of online social media. As a department, we strongly encourage student-athletes to join (“like”) ENMU Athletics and the University’s social media pages/groups, Lone Star Conference pages/groups, and NCAA Division II pages/groups.
Social media sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, etc. have increased in popularity and are used by most student-athletes at ENMU. In this context, however, each student-athlete must remember that playing and competing for ENMU is a privilege, not a right. As a student-athlete, you represent the University and you are expected to portray yourself, your team, and the University in a positive manner always. Any online postings must therefore be consistent with federal and state laws, and university, department, team and NCAA rules, regulations, and policies.
Lone Star Conference Social Networking Guidelines: Remember that all information appearing in your account will be published to the internet, which can be accessed by anyone with a computer. Assume that all material will be seen by your coach, your university president/chancellor, or a potential employer.
a. Do not publish personal contact information (i.e., phone numbers, e-mail address, physical address, dorm, etc.). Update your privacy settings so that profiles and groups are not visible.
b. Always monitor your account photo gallery, as well as your friends. Do not include photos with alcohol, nudity, or obscene gestures. Be aware that photos can be altered or tagged to your profile by others.
c. Monitor your account postings so not to include derogatory or obscene statements. You are responsible for all content appearing on your page.
d. Do not reference or discuss issues regarding your team, coaches and/or athletics department.
e. Do not talk trash or post disrespectful comments aimed at opponents.
f. Report any problems or concerns to coaches or athletics department personnel.
g. Set privacy settings to only allow friends access to your account.
h. Do not add people as “friends” to your account that you do not know personally.
i. Be sure to log out from shared computers so that others cannot access your site.
j. Do not post your class or practice schedule, including times and locations.
Examples of inappropriate and offensive behaviors concerning participation on social media sites may include, but are not limited to the following:
a. Posting photos, videos, and comments showing the personal use of alcohol, tobacco (e.g., holding beer cans, shot glasses, bottles of alcohol, etc.)
b. Posting photos, videos, and comments that are of sexual nature. This includes links to websites of a pornographic nature and other inappropriate or suggestive material.
c. Posting photos, videos, and comments that condone drug-related activity. This includes, but is not limited to, images that portray the sale, possession, or use of marijuana, impermissible supplements, and drug paraphernalia.
d. Posting photos, videos, and comments using inappropriate or offensive language. This includes threats of physical or emotional injury to another person and derogatory or defamatory comments against race, ethnicity, creed, color, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
Any concerns about a student-athlete’s posting or other online activity related to potential NCAA violations should be reported immediately to the Coach, the Compliance Coordinator, or the Assistant Athletics Director of Student Success.
Any violation of federal or state law, university, department, team and NCAA rules, regulations, and policies (e.g., ENMU’s Student Code of Conduct or ENMU Student-Athlete Handbook,), or evidence of such violation in your online content, is subject to investigation and possible immediate sanction by the Department of Athletics, Eastern New Mexico University, the NCAA, and/or law enforcement agencies.
Sanctions may include, but are not limited to, notice to remove the posting or photo, removal/suspension from practice or competition, dismissal from the team, and non-renewal or reduction of athletics grant-in-aid.
