Collegiate Times

Publicity has risen for JuicyCampus.com, a gossip Web site centered on campus life.

Similar to "Gossip Girl," the book series and television show, students can anonymously post any sort of "juicy" information on their classmates.

There are no content restrictions; students are free to discuss the sexual encounters, romantic lives, friend issues or weight gains of anyone on campus.

Because Matt Ivester, the creator of the site, is a Duke University graduate, the Web site was originally open to only Duke-related gossip.

Now, the number of colleges involved in the site has increased to include about 50 schools. Thousands of hateful threads have been posted, ranging from lists of sluttiest girls on campus to homophobic and anti-Semitic rants.

In a positive turn for a generation generally considered to have a high interest in the gossip and downfalls of celebrities and peers, students are showing their disgust at the Web site in masses. Ivester has received complaints and calls from organizations of the schools included in JuicyCampus.com, requesting that the site be shut down.

It's a relief to hear that, despite the originally high use of the site, students are starting to realize that such gossip sites are both unproductive and unnecessary. Such a site will only succeed in perpetuating intolerance and malice.

There is no reason that Ivester and his Web site should sponsor a forum where forms of intolerance are welcome.

Some innocent topics are fair game for online discussion. However, a Web site that allows for discussion boards devoted to ruining reputations and insulting entire demographics is completely uncalled for.

Plenty of people have seen the danger in posting seemingly unattractive pieces of themselves on Facebook or MySpace.

Many students make sure to keep their Facebook or MySpace pages free from drug, alcohol or sexual references in order to keep a clean reputation for potential employers who are using the networks.

Unfortunately, because of JuicyCampus.com, the effort you make to maintain a clean reputation could go down the drain because of one classmate who decides to post your weekend escapades using your full name. These posts can damage careers and amount to little more than anonymous libel.

Ivester has done one thing correctly with the site, however. While he won't give the IP addresses of posters to anyone who complains of content that is too cruel, in the event of a post containing threats of campus violence, such as a school shooting, Ivester will provide any information to authorities that could assist in tracking down the poster. In the wake up the North Illinois shootings, at least Ivester can identify the importance of taking such content seriously.

JuicyCampus.com depends on advertising to keep the Web site up, and the advertising only continues if the traffic on the Web site continues.

Do your part to prevent this site from including Virginia Tech in its gossip by refusing to visit the site. Don't feed into the frenzy from this site or any other copycats that may arise.

The editorial board is composed of Amie Steele, Joe Kendall, Saira Haider, Laurel Colella and Sara Mitchell.