Fighting the cyberbullying war

When Tyler Clementi’s private moments with another young man were video-streamed live on the Web by two other Rutgers freshmen, resulting in the 18-year-old’s suicide, it signaled another casualty in the war on cyberbullying.

Bullying — when an individual or group taunts or abuses another person or group — is not a new phenomenon. Cyberbullying, where the digital age meets schoolyard battles between youths, has only been around for a few years, but appears more dangerous and harmful than old-school name-calling due to its immediacy, reach and virtual permanence on the Internet.

“We believe that teaching appropriate and responsible use of technology is as important a part of our curriculum as any traditional subject area,” Lawrence-Woodmere Academy Headmaster Alan Bernstein wrote in the Oct. 7 edition of the school’s newsletter, addressing the role technology played in the Clementi tragedy. “Appropriate use must be reinforced in school and at home.”

The school has a strict acceptable-use policy regarding its technology equipment. The word respect starts off many of the policy statements: respect the resources belonging to school and others; respect the set boundaries of network firewalls, content filters, server or work station security and physical locks; respect the personal safety and privacy of every community member; respect intellectual property and copyright.

Both Ravi Dharun, Clementi’s roommate, who pointed his camera and posted the video, and schoolmate Molly Wei will face real-life consequences for their actions. They were charged with invasion of privacy and could face up to five years in prison if convicted.

Sean Freese, LWA’s director of technology, reminded students of this in another message concerning the fallout of Clementi’s suicide. “Every time you are about to put something out on the Internet, ask yourself, ‘Am I using these tools to showcase my best self? Am I making the world a better, more open, more tolerant place?’” Freese said that if the answers to those questions are no, then the user should turn off the camera, log out of the chat or delete the post.

This year’s theme of LWA’s character education is how to be a leader. The middle school has an ongoing character education program and an annual day that focuses on building empathy, respect and tolerance. In the Upper School there are mandatory courses for freshmen and sophomores on the appropriate use of the Internet and social networking sites, and there are parent workshops.

Tolerance and potential consequences are addressed in the Hewlett-Woodmere School District beginning at the middle-school level, as the year kicks off with students listening to a presentation by the district social worker.

The dangers of Internet sites such as Facebook, MySpace and YouTube are discussed. Also at the middle school is an anti-bullying program called Blue and White Student Leaders. Developed with student input, it focuses on mutual respect, support for peers and an attitude of zero tolerance for bullying behavior.

“We take our code of conduct very seriously,” said Barbara Giese, a district spokeswoman, who also noted the age-appropriate philosophies and programs taught at the lower grade levels.

The code, which can be found on the district’s website, describes what is not permitted. Students must not “Engage in off-campus misconduct that endangers the health and safety of students or staff within the school or substantially disrupts the educational process. Examples of such misconduct include, but are not limited to: 1. Cyberbullying (i.e., inflicting willful and repeated harm through the use of electronic text). 2. Threatening or harassing students or school personnel over the phone. 3. Using message boards to convey threats, derogatory comments or post pornographic pictures of students or school personnel.”

Three guest speakers address Internet safety and cyberbullying throughout the year at the high school, and next month two representatives of the Nassau County district attorney’s office will speak on the legal, safety and privacy aspects of the Internet.

Cyberbullying’s impact is far-reaching, according to Dr. Lois Goldsmith, associate director of the Valley Stream-based Peninsula Counseling Center, as much of what was once considered secure territory is secure no longer. “The power of cyberbullying is that the home is no longer safe,” said Goldsmith, noting that victims show signs that include mood swings and sadness.

But, she added, it is the job of parents to make sure their children know they are there for them, and that, if needed, “a therapeutic relationship is a powerful tool.”