BTC Breaking News: Beauty School Sues Student over Facebook Page

Facebook has become more than just a site for people to reconnect with friends who have fallen off the grid; it has turned into an unstoppable marketing tool and a way to kill time when you should be doing something important.  It has also turned into a soapbox and a portal to vent and express your frustrations and dislikes.

This past weekend we spotted an article in the Chicago Tribune regarding The Salon Professional Academy in Elgin, Illinois suing student Nicholas Blacconiere of Algonquin, IL for unauthorized use of a logo and emotional damage cause by defamatory comments.  They are seeking $50,000.

According to the article, Blacconiere created a page called TSPA RobinHood and invited other students to join the page and partake in venting sessions.  He allegedly posted comments about school employees that weren’t complimentary in nature.

We would love to hear your thought regarding this and have created a discussion on the behindthechair.com Facebook page.  We ask you become a fan of our page and tell us if you think the school has just cause or if you think Blacconiere’s 1st Amendment rights are being violated. 

Update - 9/24/09:  The Facebook discussions and comments are flooding the BTC Fan Page! A number of our fans support the school  and a few people feel like Blacconiere's rights have been violated - Here's what people are saying:

BTC Fan Melinda Smalts Warner – “What ever happened to morals and manners? Yes there is the freedom of speech but must we allow others to demonstrate negative activity and just say it is ok. Speaking your mind is one thing; everyone should practice a little self control. You can always get your point across as long as you do it poetically. Always keep the others feelings in mind when stating an opinion.”

BTC Fan Michelle Mulconery – “My school holds extremely high standards and I respect that it is what sets our school apart from others in our area. I could not imagine someone doing that to any of our instructors or our school. I believe this guy had no right to create such a page.  He must be rather insecure to do such a thing. I hope the school wins their lawsuit.”

BTC Fan Crystal Alvis Rivenbark – “I am a cosmetology instructor and I believe that my students have the right to share their thoughts about their educational experience EVEN if it is not complimentary to me. I encourage students to take concerns to the school administrator if they f...eel they are not being treated fairly. If students are unhappy with their educational experience, they WILL vent. I believe their right to share their ideas and concerns should be protected. I believe that a negative comment only has power when it is true. If the school is doing it's job and is providing quality education, negative comments won't go far because the positive response will surpass the negative.”

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Click here to view the Chicago Tribune article.

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