Some students refer to it as “stalker.net,” and others simply refer to it as the Ohio State directory.
“The directory is a locator service to make it easier for friends and family to find and locate OSU students,” said Michael George, associate registrar for student support.
The information published in the directory includes the students’ names, e-mail addresses, phone numbers, campus addresses and majors. Students do not have to have their information printed if they let the registrar know before the 15th day of the quarter.
“I don’t feel that it is an invasion of privacy because students have the option to not have their information published,” said Melissa Vargo, a junior in molecular genetics.
All information that is published is protected under the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which states that there are requirements set forth to protect the privacy of student educational records.
OSU has designated the following items as being considered “public information:” a student’s name, address – both local and home, telephone number – both local and home and program of study. According to FERPA, any information contained in an official university document is considered public information; for example, any honors, majors, minors and specializations can also be published on the directory with the protection of the law.
“There has never been any complaints made about the quantity and quality of information that is presented in the directory,” George said.
The registrar does take special cases into consideration. If a female student has an ex-boyfriend who is stalking her, then her information can be removed from the directory.
“I think it’s an invasion of privacy,” said Erin Ryle, a sophomore in nursing.
Other universities and colleges publish more information in their directories.
At Ohio University, Bowling Green State University, Miami University and the University of Toledo, the student’s name, rank, address, e-mail address and phone number are all published in their directories.
At most Big Ten universities, the same information that is published in the OSU directory is used.
“I think it is good that the directory doesn’t give out home information anymore,” said Katie Frenzel, a sophomore in international studies.
Students at the University of Illinois can expect to have their names published, as well as their online alias and their so-called “pretty name.” Students at Northwestern University have everything published with the addition of their expected date of graduation at the university.
