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Threatened with Violence of Internet-Bred Threats from New York University |
| Compiled by Badpuppy's GayToday From Wired Strategies Reports
 Washington, D.C.-- Someone at New York University (NYU) apparently posted a
message to a Matthew Shepard Web site Saturday threatening to "hurt any
fag or dyke" holding vigils, marches or demonstrations honoring the slain
University of Wyoming student. This incident is the latest in a series of
online anti-gay attacks following Shepard's death.
The message was posted October 31 at 3:56 PM PST, on a bulletin board of the Matthew Shepard Online Resources Web site http://www.wiredstrategies.com/shepard.html The board was created to assist in organizing vigils in Shepard's name. The message from Christ T. N. (i.e., "Christian") read as follows: "Posted by IP:128.122.253.144 Chris T. N. on October 31, 1998 at 15:56:06: This message is vigil related so please post it. I am WARNING all homos that if you try to hold a vigil or march or demonstration in my city you will be met with brutal ass-kicking force. I will personally hurt any fag or dyke who comes to force their perverted views on us. After tuesday's election and great wins for the great Republican party, we will pass laws to outlaw homo "vigils" nationwide. Your time is up fags!" The series of numbers at the top of the message (the IP address) trace it to someone accessing the Internet from the Academic Computing Facility at New York University. According to NYU's Web site http://www.nyu.edu, access to the Web is made available to the students, faculty and eligible staff of NYU. It is believed that the university can likely use their computers to identify the specific author of the message. This is the latest in a series of anti-gay hate messages posted to the Shepard site. Two previous postings read: "Posted by str8 on October 22, 1998 at 12:04:16: This is sick perverted behavior! All fags and lesbians will be punished in this country. If not by the great Republican Congress or by the Courts of law, then surely God will punish them. In the meantime I will do my part to punish with my fist and the heel of my boot!!" Posted by someone on October 20: "It's not too late to try and be STRAIGHT. Give up your homo lifestyle or more fags will die and lesbians raped and impregnated and forced to bear straight children. This is war against you homo perverts!!" The anti-gay hate on the Shepard site has not occurred in a vacuum. Just yesterday, the Associated Press reported that two students at Holy Cross college in Worcester, Massachusetts are facing disciplinary proceedings for sending anti-gay email messages to all 2,200 students at the college. In addition, a number of gay organizations made news a few weeks ago after receiving threatening emails shortly after Shepard was found brutally beaten.
"Anti-gay hate isn't just a small-town thing," said John Aravosis, who runs
the Matthew Shepard Online Resources Web site. "Whether it's from
drop-outs in Wyoming, or well-off kids at a Catholic college or big city
university, hate knows no class," he added.
"These unfortunate incidents show that anti-gay prejudice is alive and well in America, and more widespread than many would like to admit," Aravosis said. "Let's hope that our political leaders wake up to that fact before there's another Matthew Shepard." According to NYU's statement of policy, each NYU Internet user promises that "I understand that my access to NYU computing resources is for the sole purpose of facilitating my work as a University student, staff member or faculty member." In addition, the statement notes that: "Any abuse or violation of the rules outlined here (or of other rules and practices governing the use of computer networks to which NYU is attached) will lead to account suspension and immediate review, with the possibility of account revocation, further disciplinary action in accordance with New York University rules and procedures, and referral to local, state and federal law enforcement authorities." The entire statement can be found at http://www.nyu.edu/acf/accounts/respon.html What You Can Do Aravosis is urging concerned citizens to call NYU president Jay Oliva at 212-998-2345, and email the NYU Webmaster at webmaster@nyu.edu, demanding that the university conduct an immediate investigation of this threat, and deal swiftly and sharply with the individual involved. Wired Strategies Web Site: http://www.wiredstrategies.com |
