The spotlight drawn by the two High School North graduates in the Rutgers University invasion of privacy case has prompted the Plainsboro Police to address the the issue of cyber bullying.
In hopes of preventing similar incidents in the future, the department will host a cyber-bullying seminar on Monday, November 8, at 7 p.m. in the Plainsboro municipal center courtroom.
Last month, Dharun Ravi, 18, of Plainsboro, and Molly Wei, 18, of West Windsor, both freshmen at Rutgers, 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.
Their alleged victim, Tyler Clementi, a gay freshman from Ridgewood, committed suicide, adding questions of whether their actions warrant an upgrade to a hate crime consideration.
Plainsboro Police referenced the event in a press release announcing the seminar. “In light of recent events in the news involving the use of computers to harass and bully individuals, it is important that we are aware of the harm and emotional damage our actions or the actions of our children on the computer can cause others,” the press release stated. “Cyber-bullying is a real problem and parents need to educate themselves on how to prevent it, how to protect their children from it, and how to deal with it if your child becomes a victim of it.”
Police said that children need to understand the pain their actions can cause others, learn how to avoid becoming a victim and how to report cyber-bullying.
The seminar is open to all Plainsboro residents — both parents and children 13 years old or older. Police are asking those interested in attending to respond through E-mail to epotts@plainsboronj.com. Those interested can also call 609-799-2333, ext. 1674 for more information.
