In light of recent restrictions for online activity levied on student-athletes at Kent State University, specifically activities on Facebook.com, other colleges around the country are working toward related policies.

Penn State does not currently have a policy on Facebook or other online networking and photo-sharing sites. Unfortunately, it is something the athletic department will likely address, especially after recent scandals at other universities.

Kent Sate took the stance that it was protecting its athletes, who may be putting too much personal information online in the public domain. Initially, student-athletes were told to remove their Facebook profiles by August. However, the ban was later reconsidered. Kent State now requires athletes to utilize the Web site's privacy settings.

The problem: The university's motive seems to be more to protect its image rather than its athletes.

If a ban, which limits a person's right to free speech, is put in place at Penn State or any other university, shouldn't it encompass all of the students? Anyone could get into some kind of trouble by carelessly posting compromising pictures online or even attract unwanted attention from those who can get their information off the Web.

If Kent State's top priority was to protect its student-athletes, the administration should look out for everyone, not just those who wear the school's name on their jerseys.

The athletes represent the school, perhaps more than anyone else on campus. Would anyone want to even imagine what would happen if one of Penn State's star football players was cited for underage drinking? What if the evidence against him was a picture of him holding a beer in his Facebook profile, or if he was a member of one of the countless groups about drinking?

The consequences for the university are too steep for it to stand idly by, but where does protecting its image cross the line? The real issue here is responsibility of not just the athletes -- especially those on scholarship -- but for everyone.

Kent State's new restricted policy allows coaches and advisers to monitor the athletes' profiles, and in the past Penn State police have used evidence on Facebook to charge field-rushers after the Oct. 8 football game against Ohio State.

It is up to every person to use his best discretion on what should and should not be posted for everyone to see online.

If one feels the need to post pictures of questionable behavior, at least use privacy settings if they are available.