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thebattalion ● wednesday,
october 12, 2011
● serving
texas a&m since 1893
● first paper free – additional copies $1 ● © 2011 student media
Evan Andrews — THE BATTALION
Law enforcers use social media to catch criminals and prevent crime Barrett House The Battalion
W
ith the recent explosion of social networks, namely Facebook, students are not the only ones utilizing its capabilities.
Local authorities, as well as law enforcement departments across Texas, are using social networking technology to prevent crime as well as catch criminals. Bryan Police Department assistant chief of police, Peter Scheets, said Bryan PD uses Facebook to keep tabs on criminal activities. In one instance, the police department was able to apprehend a suspect that had evaded police twice,
inside sports | 3 Gone fishin’ The Aggie Anglers will test their luck this weekend in the Texas Regional Fishing Championship. Hooking the big one could win the group $50,000.
voices | 4
MAILCALL Check inside to see what readers have to say about campus issues and stories published in The Battalion. Submit your own MailCall to mailcall@thebatt. com.
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because he posted the details on Facebook. Detective Chris Loup, of the Bryan Police Department, who has received training for online social networking security, said that he has also used Facebook to identify a suspect based on information the victim had given him. Another college town, Waco, has seen an increase in the use of Facebook as both an investigative
tool and a way to get important information to the public. Jim Doak, chief of the Baylor University Police Department, said Baylor UPD uses Facebook to identify individuals; however, he said he was unable to give details about specific cases. “[Facebook is] going to be with us as time goes on; we’re working on it and we will eventually get more involved,” Doak said. Local authorities are also using Facebook as a tool for crime prevention. Bryan PD and College Station PD post tips on how to deter car burglaries and be safe in the city at night, especially on campus.
“We put crime prevention tips on Facebook and it has been very beneficial for that use.” said Patrick Swanton, public information officer sergeant for Waco Police Department. “We do not have an official page, but eventually we will have a page.” Swanton said he was unable to comment on whether the Waco Police Department uses Facebook for investigations. Larger cities, such as San Antonio, are also using Facebook as a tool for investigations. “A detective that worked in the intelligence unit was looking for a suspect. He was able to track the suspect on Facebook, and, after the suspect posted that
he was celebrating his birthday at a club, the detective was able to send officers to apprehend the suspect,” said Matthew Porter, San Antonio public information officer. “We’ll monitor tips that come in, and we’ll use any social network to follow up on them.” Departments of law enforcement, according to federal statutes for surveillance, need a criminal predicate to search social networks for information on suspects, incidents or witnesses. “I completely agree with the fact that law enforcement should use any means of information to catch criminals,” said Blanca Guerrero, senior communicaSee Facebook on page 6
student life
sports
Students turn to Twitter for career research
Volleyball faces No. 22 Sooners in Reed Courtney Nelson
Michael Dror Special to The Battalion Once criticized as a den of vanity where celebrities and common people alike told spellbound followers their breakfast menus or pets’ latest antics, Twitter has become a medium for companies and potential employees to connect and learn about each other. Many Aggies are utilizing the online phenomenon to research potential employers and become more competitive applicants. “We have students who are following employers who tweet to learn more about their organizations and job openings,” said Leigh Turner, executive director of the Texas A&M Career Center. Students said they find the process ultimately rewarding, despite having to sort through the millions of tweets broadcast on the site daily. “I plan to use Twitter to see what updates
there are in the professional world and to receive notices on internships, jobs or just updates within the companies or industry,” said Teague Ross, sophomore civil engineering major. Thousands of companies market themselves with the latest social media trends using Twitter to post job openings. This has been helpful for numerous Aggies, who can take the opportunity to learn more about company’s hiring techniques and industry trends before actually applying. Students can often find job opportunities through Twitter. Insurance company Liberty Mutual posts job openings using its @WorkAtLiberty Twitter handle, linking interested viewers directly to job applications. Additionally, companies are able to provide qualifications they are looking for See Tweet on page 8
Roger Zhang — THE BATTALION
Sophomore setter Allie Sawatzky registered nine kills and seven digs against Kansas Saturday.
The Battalion With the momentum from a conference win during the weekend, the A&M volleyball team returns to action Wednesday in College Station to take on the No. 22 Oklahoma Sooners (17-4, 4-1 Big 12). The Sooners lost their first conference game Saturday to Iowa State and will be looking to steal a win on the road. The Aggies (14-4, 3-2 Big 12) came back from a 2-0 deficit to win against Kansas Saturday and senior Kelsey Black said the team hopes to carry that confidence into Wednesday’s match. “It was like another of those big steps of the season to come from two games behind like that,” Black said. “We know how well we can play, and we showed everyone including ourselves that we can do anything.” See Volleyball on page 2
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