Gossip Web site stirs student controversy

"It's like crack, but juicier … Always anonymous, Always juicy …" reads the slogan of the public student gossip Web site, Juicy Campus.

For anyone that has ever visited the site, it is easy to understand how it got its name: the juicier the post, the better.

The Web site, which was founded in August 2007 by Duke University graduate Matt Ivester, claims to have "the simple mission of enabling online anonymous free speech on college campuses," according to an article on CNN.com.

However, the issue of where the line of free speech is drawn has been popping up on campuses nationwide.

ECU is listed on the site as one of the "500 Juicy Campuses." With thousands of posts with thread titles ranging from students' full names to "Teachers That You Will Love To Get With," "STD Spreading Gay Boys!?!" and "College Hill Whores." Juicy Campus is definitely making waves within the student community.

While some posts are made in good fun, a large number of the posts target specific people, campus organizations, athletic team members and Greek life in a malicious manner, which is raising concern amongst students and administration alike.

"We have been reviewing the issue," said university attorney Donna Payne. "Each situation depends on the particular set of circumstances involved."

Payne went on to explain that gossip sites are very careful of staying within the legal parameters and it is extremely difficult to stop such sites.

Thanks to the Communications Decency Act of 1996, the site is protected under the statement that, "the Internet is a unique medium entitled to the highest protection under the free speech protections of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution," according to the Center for Democracy and Technology's Web site.

However, students targeted on Juicy Campus need to be aware that they can in fact take action against their "anonymous posters" if statements are false or defamatory.

According to the director of Student Legal Services at ECU, Peter Romary, the first step in removing a libelous or defamatory post is to get in touch with the site administrator and state that the content posted is defamatory, and then ask that it be removed.

"Under some circumstances some posts may be violating criminal law in North Carolina depending on the intent of the writer and who the post is directed to," said Romary.

In such cases, a decision may be made by law enforcement, and the Attorney General can become involved. If enough people complain about the site, the Attorney General may step in and assist.

Posters believe they are hiding behind their anonymity, but in reality nothing is anonymous and if subpoenaed, Juicy Campus can be forced to provide IP addresses that trace back to the posters.

"Freedom of speech is a qualified right," Romary said. "You can't engage in conduct that is libelous or speech that is criminal or that could provoke a violent response."

Students are upset about the Web site as well.

"Overall it's a pretty hostile site," said freshmen communication major Derek Schrader. "It's nasty what some people write. I wouldn't know what to do if something was posted about me, but I would try to do something."

The Attorney General in both Connecticut and New Jersey has gotten involved with issues regarding the site as well. New Jersey Attorney General, Anne Milgram, subpoenaed the site's records after contact from concerned parents and students and Connecticut Attorney General, Richard Blumenthal, has launched an investigation of the site.

Posters are reminded that their words have consequences and they need to be cautious of what he or she posts for thousands to view.

This writer may be contacted at news@theeastcarolinian.com.