Student gives up Facebook for Lent

Student gives up Facebook for lent By Tony Catinella

Throughout the month of March, hundreds of Franklin Pierce students routinely logged onto their Facebook daily, checked their wall posts, and even searched a couple of other people's profiles to keep up with the social gossip.

They looked at their updates to see if they were tagged in any photos, sent a few bumper stickers, responded to messages in their inbox, or changed their profile picture three times a week.

But not junior Jeff Lowe. Lowe went 46 days without the social networking website.

Lowe, a Catholic, gave up Facebook for Lent. Lent started on Ash Wednesday (February 25) and lasted until Easter Sunday on April 12 and throughout that month and a half period, even when he really wanted to, Lowe did not check Facebook once.

Before Lent began, Jeff, like hundreds of other college students, checked his Facebook numerous times a day as a way of communicating with others. Lowe loved Facebook so much that he even had it as his home page on his computer. It was because of this daily habit, which he considered to almost be an addiction, that he decided to give up the website for Lent.

"I was sitting in the cafeteria and me and all my friends were thinking of what to give up (for Lent). They were pressuring me to give up different things like texting, but Facebook sounded like the best choice," said Jeff.

To make sure Jeff never got tempted to check his profile, his roommate Walter Lynch changed his password, so he would not break his sacrifice.

Jeff's roommate Michael Kusz was surprised that Jeff was able to restrain himself from Facebook. Kusz said that Jeff would practice with his band in his spare time instead of using Facebook.

One week before Easter, Jeff admitted that he felt disconnected from the campus because he was not using Facebook.

Many people have even complained to Jeff asking why he has not accepted their friend request.

"I feel like an outcast because pictures are uploaded and I'm missing out," he said. "I feel out of the loop."

On Easter morning, just as excited as children who open their Easter basket looking for chocolate, Jeff finally logged onto Facebook for the first time since late February.

Although he now joins the majority of campus as an avid Facebook user, Jeff has learned from his sacrifice.

"I didn't think I was going to be able to do it, but I really taught myself that I can restrain myself from things I do everyday."