Students spill the juice anonymously
Gossip lovers were first introduced to the site on August 1, 2007 by Duke graduate Matt Ivester. According to their Web site, JuicyCampus.com was founded “with the simple mission of enabling online anonymous free speech on college campuses.
Today, it is a forum where college students discuss the topics that interest them most, and in the manner that they deem most appropriate.”
As of Nov. 17, JuicyCampus.com creeps on 500 college campuses and produces some 144,412 posts. Currently, students are able to comment on topics such as “Ga College Police,” “Kappa Delta,” “Guess Who is Gay,” and “Haters Everywhere I Go.” Most of the bashing though has been directed toward the social Greek organizations on campus.
According to Richard Morgan’s article, which appeared in the International Herald Tribune, the site’s most-viewed forums usually trade gossip at small colleges with strong fraternity and sorority systems.
“Social Greek letter organizations face so much controversy as it is,” said Reese Cohn, assistant director for student involvement. “Our Greek community needs to focus on building each other up rather than perpetuating anything further that divides chapters and their members.”
All ten of the fraternities and sororities associated with GCSU’s Interfraternal and Panhellenic Council have been mentioned by nameless mudslingers.
Manley Smith, president of Kappa Sigma, encourages his members not to use the site and advises individuals who have been mentioned on this site not to allow such remarks to fuel one’s personal anger.
“It crosses the line and allows for people to speak without regard for others,” Smith said. “People shouldn’t hide behind the computer and slander the reputations of others.”
Smith’s viewpoints are shared by Amanda Miller, president of Phi Mu. Miller is trying to keep her organization as far removed from the site as possible.
“Phi Mu hasn’t had a ton of issues so far with the site, but we have asked our members that if anything is said about Phi Mu, or about someone in our chapter, not post defending statements,” Miller said. “Comments like that just make it worse.”
Cohn urges Greeks to remember that their respective organizations encourage principles of secrecy and respect between chapter members, Cohn would like to see those principles shared among members of the Greek community as a whole.
“The purpose of joining a Greek organization is to leave college as a better person,” Cohn said. “Our organizations were founded by young men and women who hoped to pass along cherished principles and virtues through unique rituals. Anonymously slandering another group or individual does nothing to further these principles.”
Though Greek life has been overly mentioned on the site, unidentified writers also securitize with their harsh smack talking antics through JuicyCampus.com.
Nick Collins, freshman undecided major, has made his claim to fame on the site. Collins was noted for being one of the biggest players at GCSU and one of the hottest freshmen.
“Being mentioned on Juicy Campus is lame. Many people have their well respected reputations ruined on it,” Collins said. “It’s childish and immature.”
Sophomore Ashlee Chambers has her own category about her, allowing for people to call her funny, sexy, an airhead and even a skank. Chambers disagrees with intentions of the online burn book and feels that those who thrive off hurtful comments need to find more constructive ways to manage their time.
“I didn’t even think that people knew who I was, I was shocked when I heard I was on it,” Chambers said.
People may be entitled to say what they please, but what’s considered a cheap thrill and a quick laugh could be resolved in a court room.
“We are so lucky to live in a nation that grants us the rights to Freedom of Speech, but printed statements are still subject to libel or slander lawsuits,” Cohn said.
In Georgia, private defamation laws protect individuals from damages caused by claims that ruin one’s reputation. Punitive damages can be collected if such statements are false. But is the site actually libelous and slanderous?
According to Jennifer Hammack, J.D., there is a fine line between legality and morality. People should be asking themselves where the privacy stops and the right to know begin.
Hammack believes that the issue is more of a moral dilemma than one that would seek legal ramifications. Issues also arise when attempting to quantify the content of the statements.
“For these statements to be defamatory then they have to be proven false and ruin an individual’s reputation. If there is a kernel of truth to the statement, a case of defamation could not hold up in court,” Hammack said. “When saying that someone is easier than second grade math what qualifies as being easy? And who is to say that second grade math was easy for everyone.”
Sites like this already exist, Hammack questions if this is the right thing to do.
“Vulgar and inflammatory comments have been made on RateMyProfessor.com, MySpace.com and Facebook.com. I think the bigger issue would be is it the most responsible thing to do,” Hammack said.
What was once confined to bathroom stalls and composition books has now been plastered all over the Internet for the world to see. This glorified message board has become an unmonitored and unrestricted forum allowing for personal attacks and the talk of the town to flourish and haunt those who are just thirsty for some juice.
Posted by Colonnade Archives
on Nov 21 2008. Filed under News.
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