student kills self after webcam spying UPDATE: Conviction Overturned

[grayjay]

He clearly agonized over it and tried to minimize it even. I personally can't imagine the humiliation of finding out you're outed and the subject of a flick on the internet like this. And someone thinks it's a joke? There is nothing funny about . It's not supposed to make you laugh. The guy is a twisted pervert.

 

[Paintr]

http://primewriter.com/news-1246-headlines/?p=10211

What may be more disturbing than knowing that the thoughtless, cruel actions of others led to Tyler Clementi’s suicide is knowing that the day after his body was positively identified, pulled from the Hudson River, people searched the Internet to see the sex video.

snip...



To think that someone would want to view the sex video that drove him to suicide shows that there is something extremely perverse in the human condition-

In fact, it was that same perverseness that lead to the creation of the sex video in the first place.

 

[Filly]

I hope people take time to look at themselves instead of getting so angry at two university students who thought they were playing an joke-however imature it was.

Danaya, I'm interested in who should be looking at their selves?

Imature? No, more like an intentionally mean spirited act to cause that poor young man distress and embarassment.

Maybe the two perps should have been looking at themselves instead of setting up a camera and videoing this poor guy. That was no joke. These are two intelligent people that knew exactly what they were doing. IMO they pushed this poor guy off the Bridge.

He wouldn't have had to make a choice to jump off a bridge if they hadn't played their "joke". He'd be enjoying his new found freedom. He'd be learning and playing his violin, and going to parties. In all honesty what were his choices after that? Live on campus with a hundred eyes staring through him and laughing at him? Seriously.

 

[Jacobi]

Can someone clarify if the video was actually recorded and posted onto the web or just live-streamed? Did it occur once or twice (I read he may have disconnected the computer?)

 

[Gozgals]

Danaya, I'm interested in who should be looking at their selves?

Imature? No, more like an intentionally mean spirited act to cause that poor young man distress and embarassment.

Maybe the two perps should have been looking at themselves instead of setting up a camera and videoing this poor guy. That was no joke. These are two intelligent people that knew exactly what they were doing. IMO they pushed this poor guy off the Bridge.

He wouldn't have had to make a choice to jump off a bridge if they hadn't played their "joke". He'd be enjoying his new found freedom. He'd be learning and playing his violin, and going to parties. In all honesty what were his choices after that? Live on campus with a hundred eyes staring through him and laughing at him? Seriously.

I'm interested in who should be looking at themselves too?

I agree with you Filly. They might as well have pushed this young man off the bridge themselves. I have been following the case since this morning and still am filled with rage and anger at what these two evil minded people did to this young man. It gets to me more everytime I read it. I am really touched by this case. It just enforces how cruel people have become.

Goz

 

[jjenny]

Can someone clarify if the video was actually recorded and posted onto the web or just live-streamed? Did it occur once or twice (I read he may have disconnected the computer?)

What difference would it make whether it was recorded and posted onto the web or live-streamed? The end result would be the same-the video ends up on the internet. The second time was apparently only an attempt, Tyler turned off the computer with the webcam.

 

[Jacobi]

What difference would it make whether it was recorded and posted onto the web or live-streamed? The end result would be the same-the video ends up on the internet. The second time was apparently only an attempt, Tyler turned off the computer with the webcam.

If I were being spied on, I'd rather it were live-streamed rather than recorded. If it's recorded to a file and uploaded it has every chance of staying on the internet in perpetuity for all his family to see, not to mention the affect on his future employment.

 

[Bree0372]

There is also a thread in the Crimes in the News forum regarding Tyler's suicide.

[ame="http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115785"]Rutgers student commits suicide after sex tape of him is placed on the internet - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community[/ame]

 

[Bree0372]

Thank you Bree. The same thing basically happened as to what I posted above. Just last week my gentleman friends niece who is a Freshman also requested a room change. Nothing as serious as any of the above or Tyler's case, but she was told it would take two weeks.

Gentleman friend's niece goes to me "Ain't that great? I get to hear her and her visiting from back home boyfriend have sex for the next two weeks Thursday through Monday".

Oh gosh. At the university I worked at this kind of thing happened all the time. The resident could go to their RA (or another RA) and discuss the situation with them. A roommate agreement for certain things was completed but I don't believe having sex with your bf would be one of them. It was in the rules that there was to be no one of the opposite sex in the room unless the door was open (IIRC).

A resident could come into the office and meet with their RLC. Most times, the RLC would meet with the resident even without the resident having spoken with their RA. A resident could complete a room change form and and most universities, there is a 2-week (at the beginning of the semester) timeframe that moves are not approved. Check-in is overwhelming for the Housing Office! However, if there was an emergency situation, or one that could not be resolved, things could be approved prior to the 2-week wait. We moved someone on the 2nd day because of a problem between the roommates. If the roommate didn't feel safe, the resident stayed in a safe room (with the on-call RLC approval) until they could go into the office the next morning to speak with their RLC who would in turn go to the housing personnel in charge of room changes. The on-call RLC would have notified the professional staff (RLC, etc).

Filly - hopefully the niece has been moved by this time, but if not, I think she should go to the housing office and speak with her RLC (or sometimes called AC - Area Coordinator). I think it's gross! We had a resident who did the same. Also, a resident who would steal her roommates underwear. :waitasec:

I'd think this situation was rather urgent. But his post is really about the general policy, so we don't know what specifically he was told about the roommate change.

I too would consider it an urgent situation. But, his post stated that there was a 2-week wait and that the situation may work out prior to that so that he wouldn't have to move (going off my memory here and it has been a long day). He should have gone in an asked to be moved to a "safe room" (temp room) or request an immediate move given the circumstances. No way would I have waited 2 weeks given the situation. Housing has an obligation to keep their residents safe.

 

[Paintr]

http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/10/01/2010-10-01_he_wanted_roomie_out_rutgers_suicide_complained_of_video_voyeur_before_fatal_fal.html



Rutgers student Ana Moore said police visited every room yesterday in the dormitory where Clementi and Ravi, 18, lived.

They asked if the residents saw the video that authorities say was streamed Sept. 19 by Ravi and his friend, Molly Wei, 18 - who were charged with invasion of privacy.


snip...

Middlesex County prosecutor Bruce Kaplan said investigators are assessing whether there was enough evidence to charge Ravi and Wei with a bias crime.

 

[Paintr]

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Hate+crime+charges+possible+suicide+freshman+Rutgers/3607406/story.html


Hate crime charges possible in suicide of freshman at Rutgers


The New Jersey attorney-general is reviewing the case of a university freshman who jumped to his death from a bridge last week after images of him having sex with another man were broadcasted on the Internet.

A spokesman said the official will decide whether to prosecute the incident as a hate crime.

snip...


If Dow elects to prosecute the matter as a bias or hate crime, Ravi and Wei would face a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison.

 

[Paintr]

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/indians-abroad/Sex-tape-Indian-origin-student-may-face-more-charges/articleshow/6664879.cms


"Now that two individuals have been charged with invasion of privacy, we will be making every effort to assess whether bias played a role in the incident, and, if so, we will bring appropriate charges," Kaplan said.

Under New Jersey law, a person is guilty of bias intimidation if he or she commits a crime with the purpose of intimidating someone because of race, colour, religion, gender, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin or ethnicity.

 

[Paintr]

http://www.dailyrecord.com/article/20101001/NEWS/310010026/Rutgers-students-accused-of-posting-sex-video-face-possible-expulsion

Rutgers students accused of posting sex video face possible expulsion

In addition to facing criminal charges for the online posting of a secret video of a student having sex in his dorm room, first-year students Dharun Ravi of Plainsboro and Molly Wei of Princeton face expulsion from the university under terms of the Rutgers Code of Student Conduct.



snip...


The code prohibits "Making or attempting to make an audio or video recording of any person(s) on University premises in bathrooms, showers, bedrooms, or other premises where there is an expectation of privacy with respect to nudity and/or sexual activity, without the knowledge and consent of all participants subject to such recordings."

 

[LiveLaughLuv]

I do hope the authorities truly look into this as a hate/bias crime for it truly fits. I heard this morning, as it stands now, these individuals can face 5 years in prison, if that add a hate crime to their charges, it would add more time for them..

They took Tyler's dignity from him. JMHO

Justice for Tyler



Bias crime charges weighed after NJ teen's suicide
By GEOFF MULVIHILL and SAMANTHA HENRY (AP) – 1 hour ago

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — As prosecutors consider filing bias-crime charges against two college freshmen accused of streaming online video of a classmate's sexual encounter with another man, a huge divide has emerged between those who support the suspects and those who want to see them punished.

The saga that unfolded this week at Rutgers University has become a flashpoint for debate after the revelation that 18-year-old Tyler Clementi had jumped to his death from the George Washington Bridge on Sept. 22.

Leading up to the suicide, a post appeared on a website catering to gay men seeking advice on what to do after learning that a roommate secretly filmed a liaison. While it's impossible to be certain that that post and subsequent ones were made by Clementi, they mirror the same timeline as the alleged filming and reflect the anguish someone in that situation might have felt.

Clementi's roommate, Dharun Ravi, of Plainsboro, N.J., and another student, and Molly Wei, of Princeton, N.J., both 18, are charged with invasion of privacy, with the most serious charges carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison.

more at the link:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...NbOUJOaBvP10z2VkrP_AD9IISRQ80?docId=D9IISRQ80

 

[Tuffy]

If I were being spied on, I'd rather it were live-streamed rather than recorded. If it's recorded to a file and uploaded it has every chance of staying on the internet in perpetuity for all his family to see, not to mention the affect on his future employment.

It doesn't matter if the roommate streamed or recorded it. Once it was streamed to the internet, anyone watching could record and save it. It would still be out there somewhere indefinitely.

 

[jjenny]

It doesn't matter if the roommate streamed or recorded it. Once it was streamed to the internet, anyone watching could record and save it. It would still be out there somewhere indefinitely.

Exactly.

 

[angelmom]

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — As prosecutors consider filing bias-crime charges against two college freshmen accused of streaming online video of a classmate's sexual encounter with another man, a huge divide has emerged between those who support the suspects and those who want to see them punished.

Clementi's roommate, Dharun Ravi, of Plainsboro, N.J., and another student, and Molly Wei, of Princeton, N.J., both 18, are charged with invasion of privacy, with the most serious charges carrying a penalty of up to five years in prison.

more at the link:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap...NbOUJOaBvP10z2VkrP_AD9IISRQ80?docId=D9IISRQ80

These two idiots have supporters???? Who, besides maybe their parents, would admit to that???

 

[jjenny]

These two idiots have supporters???? Who, besides maybe their parents, would admit to that???

Apparently some people think it's just a funny prank to broadcast someone having a sexual encounter over the internet without that person's consent.

 

[Belinda]

Maybe the clue the 'supporters' should be looking at is that a perfectly normal, healthy, happy young man suddenly committed suicide. It was due solely to the actions of those buttheads that taped and transmitted him.

 

[Jacobi]

Maybe the clue the 'supporters' should be looking at is that a perfectly normal, healthy, happy young man suddenly committed suicide. It was due solely to the actions of those buttheads that taped and transmitted him.

I think those actions were the catalyst to his committing suicide but perhaps not the sole reason. I think there is more to this story. I'm also confused about his allegedly having a cam4.com account to stream himself masturbating and such. Maybe someone discovered his online persona which would have revealed more than that streaming video did (which he himself thought was restricted to kissing).