Description of the Data
This project uses public, online text created by students in digital communities. The data consists of short excerpts. paraphrased posts, and summarized themes from platforms where students discuss their experiences, concerns, and daily life. The focus is on identifying patterns in how students talk about stress, academics, mental health, housing, campus resources, and social life. All data is collected ethically by using only public content and summarizing or paraphrasing posts rather than copying private messages.
- Subreddits such as r/westchesterpa or r/wcupa
- public posts and comment threads
- Themes: stress, finals, professors, housing, mental health, campus issues
Public Discord Channels
- Only channels that are open to all members of a student- run server or Professor – run server
- No private messages or closed groups
- Data collected as summaries of recurring topics, not copied text
Internships
Resume Review
Grad
General Convos
Instagram Comments
- Public comments on WCU – related posts
- Student reactions to events, campus life, and announcements
- Useful for emotional tone and community sentiment
Yik Yak (Anonymous, Local Posts)
- Paraphrased summaries of common topics
- Themes: parking, dining hall issues, stress, campus frustrations
- No direct quotes to protect anonymity
Issues
- Anonymity and Honesty
Anonymous platforms (like Yik Yak) may encourage honesty, but they can also include exaggeration or emotionally charged posts. This affects interpretation
2. Uneven Representation
Not all students use Reddit, Discord, or Yik Yak. The data reflects the voices of students who are active online, not the entire WCU population.
3. Ethical Boundaries
To protect privacy:
- No private Discord messages are used
- No screenshots of identifiable content
- All Yik Yak posts are paraphrased
- Only public Instagram comments are included
4. Platform Bias
Direct platforms attract different types of conversations:
- Reddit = Long discussions
- Instagram = Short reactions
- Yik Yak = anonymous venting
- Discord = casual chat
5. Limited Timeframe
The data reflects conversations from a specific period (Spring 2026). Student concerns may shift over time.