Oxford looks to Facebook for evidence

OXFORD, England, July 17 (UPI) -- Authorities at Oxford University in Britain are using photographic evidence posted on the social networking site Facebook to discipline students.

The proctors, Oxford's disciplinary body, are mailing the downloaded photos to students as evidence of breaches of the university's code of conduct by undergraduates celebrating the end of exams, The Guardian reported Tuesday.

Fines of nearly $200 are being doled out to students deemed to be guilty of "trashing" fellow students -- a practice that involves covering a comrade in champagne, confetti, flour, raw meat, octopus and other foodstuffs.

The Oxford University Student Union is advising students to set their Facebook privacy settings to keep the proctors out.

"While the Student Union does not condone unruly, violent or disorderly behavior, we believe that the privacy of our members should be protected and that disciplinary procedures at all levels within the University should be fair and transparent," said Martin McCluskey, president of the union.