For many reasons, most notably the academic successes of its students, the WW-P school district has established a positive reputation.
But one recent incident has drawn a storm of national media attention to WW-P High School North — and this time, the spotlight isn’t positive.
Two North graduates of the Class of 2010 have been charged with invasion of privacy and face jail time and the possibility that promising academic careers and future opportunities have been ruined by the charges. Further, their alleged victim, Tyler Clementi, a gay freshman from Ridgewood, has committed suicide, adding questions of whether their actions warrant an upgrade to a hate crime consideration.
In light of the charges, some have questioned whether more could have been done to educate the students on the dangers of cyber bullying in today’s society, where social media has permeated the confines of privacy (see letters, page 6, Suburban Mom, page 4, and the piece on page 12 by North graduate Alana Jorgensen). But officials at the WW-P school district have declined comment on their programs at this time.
The students, Dharun Ravi, 18, of Plainsboro, and Molly Wei, 18, of West Windsor, were charged last month with allegedly using a web camera in Ravi’s dorm room to secretly transmit images of his roommate’s sexual encounter with another man live on the Internet.
Each have each been charged with two counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly using the camera to view and transmit a live image of the 18-year-old student on the Piscataway campus on September 19, stated a press release from the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office.
Ravi is also charged with two additional counts of invasion of privacy for allegedly attempting to use the camera to view and transmit another encounter involving the same 18-year-old student on September 21, the press released stated.
Wei surrendered to Rutgers Police in New Brunswick on September 27, while Ravi surrendered to Rutgers Police on September 28. Ravi was released on $25,000 bail.
According to a press release, Rutgers police learned that the camera had been placed in the 18-year-old student’s dorm room without permission and launched an investigation, which led to the charges.
Under New Jersey’s invasion of privacy statutes, it is a fourth degree crime to collect or view images depicting nudity or sexual contact involving another person without that person’s consent. It is a third degree crime to transmit or distribute such images. The penalty for conviction of a third degree offense can include up to five years in prison.
But once reports were confirmed that Ravi’s roommate and the victim of the alleged crime committed suicide by jumping off the George Washington Bridge, talk turned to upgrading the charges.
Later officials at the prosecutor’s office announced that they were continuing to investigate the matter and “will determine if there is probable cause to bring additional charges” against the two students.
No additional charges have been added at this time, and attorneys for both Ravi and Wei have issued statements. Ravi’s attorney has said he does not think there is sufficient evidence to charge his client with a hate crime, and Wei’s attorney has maintained her innocence and has spoken out about comments made about his client that he says threaten to tarnish her reputation and hurt her future.
District officials have said in reports that the district has a program in place that educates students about issues of cyber bullying and proper use of social networking sites, but district officials are remaining tight-lipped on the details of that program in the wake of all the media attention.
Larry Shanok, the assistant superintendent for finance, told the News that officials would not discuss details about the program the district already has in place because of the sensitive nature surrounding the incident.
Superintendent Victoria Kniewel did offer a statement. “The mission statement of the WW-P Regional School District balances competence in learning with strength of character,” she said. “We work with parents, staff, and the community to instill in students the core values to which we aspire. Our annual goals are in service of this mission and core values, and we continue to look for additional ways to partner with parents and the community.”
