[K12OSN] OT: "MySpace.com" or "policies for when computer use leads to assault and battery on campus"

Doug Simpson simpsond at leopards.k12.ar.us
Tue Jan 24 17:02:58 UTC 2006


Unfortunately, if it occurs off school grounds, there is not much the 
school can do about it.

If it happens on campus (the posting, that is) then the school is actually 
liable because they allowed it to happen from their computers.

If the posting happens off-campus, and the assault happens on campus, the 
only recourse there is is to handle it just like any other on-campus 
assault.  No matter what the cause.  That would be just like if a guy said 
something about someone's girlfriend at the local game room and the other 
guy beat someone up at school.

These types of sites are banned from our computers and can lead to 
computer use suspension ot even termination altogether.

Doug Simpson
Technology Specialist
DeQueen Public Schools
DeQueen, AR 71832
simpsond at leopards.k12.ar.us
Tux for President!

On Tue, 24 Jan 2006, Steven Santos wrote:

> Slightly off topic, but since I can't think of a group that would know more
> about this...
> 
> A school in the area has been hit with a rash of in school assaults over
> things that have been posted to myspace.com, and specifically things posted
> by students claiming to be other students.
> 
> Case in point, one student was contacted by what he thought was his girl
> friend telling him she had been sexually assaulted by another student.  When
> the girlfriend isn't in school the next day (due to a scheduled ortho
> appointment) the boyfriend proceeds to beat the crap out of the other boy in
> school.
> 
> Further investigation showed the myspace account that sent the message was a
> complete copy of the girlfriends account, with a slight, and unnoticed
> alteration in the username (name1211313 instead of name121313) used to help
> pull off the deception.
> 
> The school has had 5 or 6 other instances not unlike this one over the past
> 60 days where assaults have taken place, and 15 or so that they were able to
> avert. Criminal prosecution in these cases is often difficult, as the person
> committing the actual assault is often also a victim, and tracking down who
> is behind it is proving to be almost impossible. I should also note that the
> myspace postings are taking place off school grounds.
> 
> What policies and procedures do people have in place, or could your
> recommend to deal with these types of issues?
> 
> 
> 
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