Spring Break
Students speak out about JuicyCampus
by Miranda Neubauer
Senior Writer
News | 12/9/08
Posted online at 2:24 AM EST on 12/9/08
/ Last updated at 10:11 PM EST on 12/9/08
Dean of Student Life Rick Sawyer urged students last Wednesday to speak out against the gossip Web site JuicyCampus.com in response to student requests for the administration to take action against the site and potentially ban it from campus computers.
Posts related to Brandeis started appearing on the site in early and mid-October. Some of the most popular threads are "Campuswide Biggest Slut?" and "Ugliest Person Ever."
Over Thanksgiving break, Damien Lehfeldt '09 created a Facebook group called "Shut Down Juicy Campus at Brandeis," which by Dec. 6 had 402 members.
Lehfeldt said he started the initiative because he believed the Web site was threatening the Brandeis values of social justice and truth, and he was disturbed by insults written about his friends. "This is cowardice, and it is not protected by free speech," he said. He explained that since he began his campaign, negative posts have criticized his religion and have misrepresented his sexual orientation.
The administration was supportive in response to student concerns while carefully reviewing its options, Lehfeldt said. "I wish at this point the administration would put a ban on the Web site," which would convey that the University does not tolerate such behavior among the student body, he said. He also said that he believes there are a number of legal precedents that would justify removing the site for libel or defamatory speech.
"We're really empathetic; … I've had students sitting on my couch really upset and a little bit traumatized," Sawyer said, also noting many concerns expressed by friends and parents. "We're really disappointed … that I guess we do have some students on this campus who take advantage of the ability to be anonymous."
Sawyer stated the Department of Student Life believed it would be "more appropriate for students to be outraged" than for the administration to intervene. He said he encouraged the Student Union to work with Lehfeldt to establish a wider campus movement by this week and suggested conducting a student body survey. "I would hope that the students who have been to that site and posted bad things would be embarrassed about it, and I don't think they would be as embarrassed if I were to scold them," Sawyer said.
Posts related to Brandeis started appearing on the site in early and mid-October. Some of the most popular threads are "Campuswide Biggest Slut?" and "Ugliest Person Ever."
Over Thanksgiving break, Damien Lehfeldt '09 created a Facebook group called "Shut Down Juicy Campus at Brandeis," which by Dec. 6 had 402 members.
Lehfeldt said he started the initiative because he believed the Web site was threatening the Brandeis values of social justice and truth, and he was disturbed by insults written about his friends. "This is cowardice, and it is not protected by free speech," he said. He explained that since he began his campaign, negative posts have criticized his religion and have misrepresented his sexual orientation.
The administration was supportive in response to student concerns while carefully reviewing its options, Lehfeldt said. "I wish at this point the administration would put a ban on the Web site," which would convey that the University does not tolerate such behavior among the student body, he said. He also said that he believes there are a number of legal precedents that would justify removing the site for libel or defamatory speech.
"We're really empathetic; … I've had students sitting on my couch really upset and a little bit traumatized," Sawyer said, also noting many concerns expressed by friends and parents. "We're really disappointed … that I guess we do have some students on this campus who take advantage of the ability to be anonymous."
Sawyer stated the Department of Student Life believed it would be "more appropriate for students to be outraged" than for the administration to intervene. He said he encouraged the Student Union to work with Lehfeldt to establish a wider campus movement by this week and suggested conducting a student body survey. "I would hope that the students who have been to that site and posted bad things would be embarrassed about it, and I don't think they would be as embarrassed if I were to scold them," Sawyer said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Dave Gold '94
posted 12/31/08 @ 11:35 AM EST
As much as the site is horrid, censorship is a slippery slope. If you start with JuicyCampus, why not reviewmyprofessors? And Nazi websites are pretty distasteful, right?
Once you cross the line, you can't go back. (Continued…)
jasonglades
Dissertation discussion
posted 2/12/09 @ 5:46 AM EST
I have already banned JuicyCampus.com from my computer though I hadn't been during this discussion.
Post a Comment