As the FA and administration worked on a contract, a Facebook page called “Friends of CMU Faculty” was utilized to keep supporters of the FA informed. Constant updates, newspaper stories and both faculty and student opinions were voiced, and the page was updated as new information became available.

John Hartman, professor of journalism, said without the page, information wouldn’t have been shared as well as it was.

Hartman was on sabbatical during the fall semester.

“It would have been harder (to share information). I would have had to spend much more time phoning or emailing colleagues to ask what was going on. Even then, I do not believe I would have been as well-informed, because there were postings on both pages from faculty and students that I did not know and with whom I would not have been in touch,” he said.

Cody Armstrong, a freshman from St. Clair, said he would not have been informed about anything going on between the faculty and administration had it not been for the Facebook page.

“Being a new student, I was very unaware of any problems occurring between the faculty and administration,” he said. “I used the Facebook page to gain an understanding of what was happening, and without it, I would have been completely lost. I’m glad it was started.”

Hartman said students on the page varied from being well-informed of the issues at hand to having no idea what was going on and being confused. As words were exchanged, both parties became deeply involved in debates.

“Some (students) were knowledgeable and were helping the FA efforts. Others were not well-informed about the issues. I and others often explained issues and background on unfamiliar topics to them. There were a few students whose feelings were hurt, because they made statements that drew fire from those deeply involved in the matter,” Hartman said. “I regret that. None of us wanted to do anything to harm students.”

During the past year, social media have taken on an important role for revolutionaries in the Middle East, protesters here at home and politicians across the world.

The Arab Spring’s explosive growth would have been largely impossible without the use of social media. Protesters looking to overthrow dictators and install democracies organized on Facebook and Twitter and shared YouTube videos of brutal crackdowns. Their actions online made it easier to mobilize, but governments would not have fallen without acts of courage, said Timothy Boudreau, Associate Professor of Journalism.

“Social media helped the protesters communicate and organize much more effectively, but the protesters posed a real threat only when they took to the streets and put their lives on the line,” Boudreau said.

Many countries have threatened to arrest bloggers who are accused of spreading “malicious rumors,” according to a report by Reuters examining the impact of social media. Twitter announced in late January it will allow for country-specific censorship, sparking outrage from internet users across the world.

Here in the United States, social media are also having an enormous impact on the political landscape.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has used social media to organize and mobilize thousands of protesters around the country, and eventually around the world, in a similar way to the Arab Spring protesters. This has allowed OWS to spread around the globe at a pace previously unimaginable.

Internet users have also had an impact on lawmakers on Capitol Hill. After websites like Wikipedia and Reddit shut down for a whole day to protest the controversial Stop Online Piracy Act  and Protect IP Act on Jan. 18, the number of opponents to the bill in Congress more than tripled from 31 to 101, according to ProPublica.org. The bill has since been shelved.

As the 2012 elections heat up, social media will continue to leave its mark on American politics.

“I think candidates are using all available tools, including social media, to reach voters,” said Orlando Perez, political science professor and department chairman. ”Studies have shown that repeated personal contact with the voters is the most effective way of getting people to support a candidate.”

President Barack Obama, who was the first presidential candidate to effectively use social media in a presidential campaign, recently held a question-and-answer session via YouTube and Google+ with a group of people, showing the appeal of directly speaking to voters without the use of traditional news outlets.

“Obama’s campaign seems more adept at using social media, but that might be because his supporters tend to skew younger than the GOP’s,” Boudreau said.

The shift from search to discovery is becoming popular among college students, particularly females who account for 58 percent of the traffic on Pinterest, according to Experian Hitwise.

Some college students, like Royal Oak freshman Emerson Morton, use the virtual pinboard for collecting and sharing content as an escape from studying.

“Pinterest is extremely addicting,” Morton said. “I’m kind of obsessed with it. It distracts me from the studying I don’t want to be doing.”

Although Morton has been “pinning” for more than a year, she only has four boards with 108 pins. She said she is very selective about what she pins, and she uses the site mostly for creative food recipes.

“I’ve found some really yummy things on there,” she said.

Morton said it’s a good way to kill time waiting for class to start. She said shes spends about an hour on the site daily.

“I’ve pretty much planned my dream wedding on Pinterest,” she said. “I’ve found everything from the dress to the flowers.”

Sterling Heights senior Mike Manoogian said he gave in to Pinterest for cooking recipes.

“I guess I’ve been discovered. I didn’t want to because it’s a girl thing,” he said. “But my friend told me about it because I like to cook.”

Manoogian said he prefers Twitter over Pinterest, but Pinterest is number two on his social media list.

“I don’t want to get too addicted,” he said. “My roommate, who is a girl, wastes an entire day on it.”

The website has been around since March 2010, but its popularity has recently exploded with 7.21 million users in December 2011. From September to December 2011, unique visitor traffic increased by 429 percent, according to Mashable.com.

Pinterest is ranked fifth among social networking and forum websites, driving the most referral traffic in the United States for businesses, according to Experian Hitwise.

Many users, like Clarkston sophomore Shannon O’Connor, credit Pinterest for her inspirations. O’Connor said there are new, unique ideas on Pinterest she wouldn’t see anywhere else.

She has only had an account for two months but said she has already accumulated 518 pins and 12 boards, mostly about fashion. All of her boards are extremely organized, she said.

“Pinterest sparks new ideas in hair, fashion, makeup and nails,” she said. “I spend hours on Pinterest every day.”

O’Connor said Pinterest is a creative outlet for new ideas.

“It’s the best cure to boredom,” she said.

O’Connor said people will comment on her nails and ask where she got the idea.

But not everyone finds Pinterest to be so great.

Okemos junior John Miller said he isn’t a fan.

“It’s a waste of time,” he said. “I have better ways to spend my time.”

Miller said some people take social media and sites like Pinterest too seriously. He said he refuses to be a victim of the Pinterest trance some people fall into.

Kingsley freshman Lindsey Newell agreed with Miller, but was not swearing off the site entirely.

“I do not want to be addicted to it,” she said. “I’ll probably cave in eventually and get one in the summer.”

Instagram Photos by Mike Mulholland and Amelia Eramya.

Some Instagram photos are turning iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch users into instant photographers.

Appearing in the App Store in October 2010, the app currently has more than 50 million users. According to Mashable.com, an Android version of the app is currently under development, though an official release date has yet to be announced.

The app is a “fast, beautiful and fun way to share your life with friends through photos,” according to the site’s page.

Previously, photos could only be visible on the program itself, but now users can share their photos on social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Flickr with a couple taps on their touch screen. The photos can also be viewed on webstagram.com.

Similar to Twitter, people can “follow” the posts of their friends and even celebrities.

“I follow more celebrities than friends,” said Escanaba junior Chantell LaForest. “Justin Bieber and Selena (Gomez), of course, and Zooey Deschanel.”

LaForest said she takes photos of everything, especially her meals.

“If I feel something is noteworthy, I’ll snap it and post it to Instagram,” she said. “Food is always important.”

One of Instagram’s most popular features are photography filters and effects. Of the 16 effects one can apply to their average-looking photo, LaForest said X-Pro II, which adds a vintage look to photos, is her favorite.

For LaForest’s roommate, photos of her puppy and hedgehog are the stars of Chesaning junior Kaylee Turnwald’s profile.

“I like that it’s like Twitter, only with pictures,” she said.

Grand Rapids junior Michael Sundt said the app is just an excuse for people to think they are artists.

“I hate how people take pictures of every day, ordinary things, add an effect and suddenly they think it’s some great thing,” he said. “One photo that bothered me the most was when someone took a picture of a single cup of coffee and posted it on Twitter.”

If the photo doesn’t have any meaning behind it, Sundt said he thinks it should stay off the web.

“It’s basically like Garage Band for photos,” Sundt said. “People can go on, take a photo, do whatever they want with it and call it their own.”

Although Sundt disagrees with many of the photos people post, he said the Stitchagram.com website is a good idea for Instagram’s business.

Instagram is gaining favor in the corporate world as well. In October 2011, Ford utilized the photo app, launching a six-week contest called “Fiestagram” to promote their new automobile, the Ford Fiesta, according to media.ford.com. European users submitted their Instagram photos of the different car features and technology to win prizes ranging from being featured in real-life galleries to winning the Ford Fiesta.

Stitchagram.com offers users the chance to create personalized pillows with their Instagram photos. Although the app is free, the pillows come at a price. Each 15-inch pillow, created with either four large photos or 25 small ones, will set a customer back about $45.

While resting on an Instagram pillow, people can also flip through a book holding a collection of their favorite phone photography. Blurb.com allows users to create the books and go on to sell them on the website.

Whether used to capture your hedgehog’s first steps or a well-crafted cappuccino, each of this app’s more than 1.3 million daily uploaded images say more than 140 words.

The program, which consists of 12 required hours of journalism classes and one three-credit hour elective, will educate students on the benefits and impacts of social media today. The program will inform students on the ethical implications of social media and will teach students to maximize online traffic to meet business objectives.

CMU is not the first university to implement such a program. Cleveland State University, Ball State University, State University of New York at Purchase and University of California, Irvine have developed social media programs.

Journalism instructor Mary Lichtman began developing curriculum for the program in the fall of 2010 and will teach some of the courses offered for the certification. Social media has become important in every career field, and the program will help students reach business goals and objectives through social media, she said.

“Social media has changed the way we look for jobs, the way we buy our clothes and other products; it has changed the way we travel,” Lichtman said in an email. “There is no career field that hasn’t been changed by social media.”

She said the curriculum will offer many practical tips to maximize online traffic through social media as well as educate students on the ethical implications.

Students will actively use social media in the program, though some sites may be less known than others, she said.

“After completion of the certificate, students should be able to assess the current use of social media and other communications in an organization, determine the goals of the organization and its risks and governance processes, select best practices for the organization, train employees, create content that engages audiences and drives traffic where the business wants it to go,” Lichtman said.

Journalism Department Chairwoman Maria Marron said the program will help students become proficient in business aspects of social media. Marron said some former journalism students have found successful jobs by mastering social media.

“I think with the explosion of social media, it’s absolutely important that journalism students and, for example, PR and advertising practitioners know the value of social media,” Marron said.

Algonac senior Chris Smith, a public relations major, said social media is one of the main interests of his studies. Smith said he would be interested in such a program, and many technology-savvy college students may find careers in social media.

“Social media is actually becoming a lot bigger. It’s like free marketing for everyone and a lot of people don’t really know how to use it, especially older executives that are kind of out of date with technology,” Smith said. “It’s a great opportunity for college kids to kind of jump into that niche and take over.”

Amelia Eramya/Lead Designer

Social networking has become the platform of our generation — sadly.

Although the number of users may suggest otherwise, social networking has hindered day-to-day, face-to-face, interpersonal communication.

I deleted my Facebook in December as an experiment to see who I’d keep in contact with over winter break while visiting my sisters in Las Vegas.

Ultimately, I didn’t talk to many friends. I talked to people I worked with more than my own roommates.

Not to say I have burned bridges and cut the ties with friends I solely kept in touch with via Facebook, but it did prove to show me exactly who my friends were.

Upon returning to Mount Pleasant, I saw my roommate at our apartment. We exchanged the “hellos” and “how are yous” before I asked her how things were going with her boyfriend. You know, the usual.

She replied, “Oh, we broke up.”

Oops. If I still had my Facebook account, I would have known.

But because of a website with more than 845 million users, a website that is the epitome of our generation, a website where it’s acceptable to have your fetus as your profile picture, I did not know my roommate and her boyfriend broke up.

The point of social networking websites is to connect people through multiple channels — updates, photos, links, branding and promotion — but in the very act of doing such connecting, it has hindered the ultimate skill people should have — verbal communication.

As a journalist, social networking and the Internet are permanently bookmarked in my brain. But it has hurt the one thing I looked forward to in my daily life.

It is no longer a goal to personally speak to someone about their days, their lives, what they’re doing, who they’re with, etc. If you want to know anything, just check Facebook, right?

It has not only killed the core of human interaction, but it has structured people to become self-absorbed. If only there were a “no one cares” button to click.

Too often do I have friends come up to me asking me why they can’t find me on Facebook. And too often do I get a pat on the back and told, “You’re smart, I wish I could do that.”

To think people check their news feed more than they pick up a newspaper or read an article online scares me for the future of our world.

Noam Chomsky, who is sometimes referred to as “the father of modern linguistics,” said we are born with a innate blueprint for language.

My 9-year-old niece already has a Facebook. I didn’t activate mine until my freshman year at Central Michigan University. I don’t intend on not returning to Facebook, but since deleting it, I have yet to consider reactivating my account.

I do miss the photos, the statuses worth liking and the ability to learn more about what my friends think is interesting.

But what I don’t miss, as Grizzly Bear so kindly put it via Twitter, is: “Every time I log into Facebook there’s a newborn baby picture I feel obliged to ‘like.’”

Jordan Spence/Staff Reporter

“I am new to the dating field but I want to start meeting new people and dating.  I’m hoping to find someone at CMU, but don’t know where to start. Do you have any advice where I could go on campus to meet new people?”

The best way to start dating is by having an open mind, which it sounds like you have already. The great thing is you can meet someone anytime, anywhere. Get the word out there to friends and family that you’re open to dating right now, because the more people that know, the better. They might start thinking of people you can be set up with.

Even if sparks don’t fly with someone, hopefully you can manage to stay friends with them.

Get involved with a registered student organization on campus or a co-ed intramural sport. I know many couples have met this way because it’s an activity with people where you share the same interest.

Also, just get yourself out of the house. Study at a park or coffee house; sometimes you’ll start to see the same faces and sooner or later you will be starting up a conversation with them.

Keep yourself open to trying new things and going new places; explore Mount Pleasant. The biggest thing to keep in mind is that when you stop looking for someone, you tend to meet them.

“What do I do if my boyfriend wants to try anal sex and I don’t?”

This is when honest communication is imperative. Be straightforward. Whenever I start to date someone, I tell them before they ask: “There are two things I won’t try in bed; threesomes and butt sex, so don’t even ask.” This way they know I mean business and leave me alone.

If you really are closed off to the idea, don’t be wishy-washy and say, “Well, maybe someday.”

Just tell him, “I’m not interested in trying that and never will be. I don’t think it’s sexy, can we try something else?” Suggest a new position that you haven’t tried instead.

I don’t know the fascination men have with anal sex, but it certainly seems like a selfish one. Yes, some women like it, but I don’t know how they confused some women with all women.

He should respect your feelings. Just know that a good partner will never make you do something you don’t want to do or that you’re uncomfortable doing.

Various departments and organizations at Central Michigan University are utilizing Facebook pages and Twitter accounts to stay better connected with students, prospective students and alumni.

Sarah Barnard, outreach coordinator for the Study Abroad Program, said she uses the “Central Michigan University Study Abroad” Facebook page to keep students informed and enthusiastic about the programs offered.

“We love to post pictures of students’ trips,” Barnard said. “I also put up articles related to the benefits of studying abroad or journals that students keep while they’re away. Things like that shed a lot of light on the study abroad program for students who may be curious.”

The athletics department uses social media sites on a bigger scale, rolling out 12 Facebook pages and 13 Twitter accounts within the last year.

“(They) are used to strengthen our brand, start conversations and deliver information directly to students, alumni and fans,” said Director of Communications Jason Kaufmans. “The department and each of our 11 sports has an official Facebook page and Twitter account managed by our social media team, and Athletics Director Dave Heeke has a Twitter account that he manages.”

Director of Information Services at the Charles V. Park Library Timothy Peters is in charge of the Facebook page for the main library.

“Using social media is a good way to get our message to a place where we know students are. It’s another avenue for us to promote ourselves,” he said. “I post information about library closings, changes in hours and reminders about services we provide. It’s good to jog people’s memories and remind them that we’re here to help.”

Kaufman said using social media is a necessity in today’s climate, where fans want information delivered directly to them instead of having to find it themselves.

“As future students of CMU get involved with social media at an earlier age, they come in with an expectation that our organization is integrated in the social media world,” he said.

Barnard said using social media is the best way to stay in contact with students.

“It’s a great way to get the word out and share information,” she said. “Facebook and Twitter are new and hip ways to stay connected with students.”

The athletics department plans to continue to utilize social media in the future.

“We are continually looking for new ways to reach our fans with social media,” Kaufman said. “Future plans include building more awareness of our social media pages, providing unique content that is only available with social media and measuring the effectiveness of our efforts.”

Local businesses and nationwide chains are using Twitter to remind potential customers of their presence.

While some Tweet specials, others take a different approach.

Max & Emily’s Eatery, 125 E. Broadway St., does not just use Twitter for tweeting their soup of the day.

“We’re trying to enter into the conversation,” said Tim Brockman, owner of Max & Emily’s.

Max and Emily’s became involved with their Facebook account, and one of the employees opened a Twitter, Brockman said.

Brockman said the sandwich shop uses @MaxandEmilys to stay in touch with the community and integrate into their online habits.

During the winter months, Brockman said the Twitter account invited pictures of ugly sweaters but did not see a lot of pictures.

“We’re doing it for the community,” Brockman said. “It makes Mount Pleasant a more interesting place to live.”

Ginkgo Tree Inn and River Bluff Bistro, 309 N. Main St., has a young Twitter account, @ginkgotree309, created on Jan. 23.

Innkeeper McKenzie Bade said the business is also young, as it opened in October.

Bade said she plans to tweet room specials and dinner specials for the dining establishment adjoined to the inn.

However, more immediate specials are available.

“If readers bring in a copy of this article, they can receive a free dessert and non-alcoholic beverage,” Bade said.

Many businesses are using Twitter as a way to remind potential customers of their presence.

Six months ago, Port Huron senior Kyle Gostinger set up the Twitter account for his place of work, Kaya Coffee & Tea Co., 1029 S. University Ave.

“It’s more acceptable to send out four tweets than it is to update a Facebook status that many times,” Gostinger said.

Computers around campus are littered with open tabs of social networking sites like Tumblr, Facebook and Twitter, Gostinger said.

@Kayacoffeehouse often tweets their soup of the day, specialty drinks and slow times at the shop.

“We get a few new followers every day,” Gostinger said. “Every week, we get more people who mention us.”

Gostinger is most active on Kaya’s Twitter, often conversing with those who make inquires about the coffee shop.

“Hopefully I can pass it along to someone who can maintain it and keep it up,” Gostinger said.

Some chain businesses located in Mount Pleasant with Twitter accounts include McDonald’s, Burger King, Tropical Smoothie, Buffalo Wild Wings, Coldstone Creamery, Rally’s and Jimmy Johns.

Jordan LaPorte/Staff Reporter

There has been no shortage of films featuring super-powered characters recently, and the same can be said for films told through a “found footage”-style that has the audience looking through a handheld camera.

It seems kind of crazy that “Chronicle” falls into both of those categories but is still able to give audiences a viewing experience with originality and depth, despite coming in at less than 90 minutes.

Much of the movie’s quality rests on the shoulders of Dane DeHaan, who plays the troubled main character and camera operator Andrew Detmer. The early story deals with Andrew’s turbulent situation at home, as well as his introverted social life in high school.

DeHaan gives a convincing performance as a teenager with a tormented soul who is still good at heart. He does a good job of creating a connection between his character and the audience.

Matt Garetty, played by Alex Russell and Steve Montgomery, played by Michael B. Jordan, are the other two main characters of the story. Their performances are good as well. The three main characters have excellent chemistry when they’re together, which lends more impact to the dramatic confrontations of the film. Their chemistry also helps the humor in the film seem more realistic and genuine.

After leaving a party, the three of them find a mysterious object underground in the middle of the woods. After coming close to it, the object knocks them out while also bestowing them with telekinetic superpowers.

From that point on, “Chronicle” focuses on how Andrew, Matt and Steve deal with their new-found abilities.

They aren’t concerned with fighting crime or carrying out revenge on past enemies like many superheroes in film. Instead, they just screw around, playing pranks on one another and on other people. It’s a unique, fun twist on the traditional training portion of a superhero movie, though events turn more serious later in the film.

The weakest portion of “Chronicle” is easily the special effects.

Every once in a while they will look decent, but most of the time they range from painfully hokey to outright awful. This is especially true when the characters fly, which is cool in concept, but terrible in execution. It wouldn’t be much of a problem if there weren’t so many scenes that required special effects, especially in the last 20 minutes.

Overall, “Chronicle” is an extremely pleasant surprise that is significantly held back by an abundance of terrible special effects.

Genre: Science-Fiction, Drama
Rated: PG-13
Score: 3 out of 5