Volume 124 Issue 119
kansan.com
Friday, March 16, 2012
"The Dirty" creates a forum for users to post unflattering photos and lewd comments of other people. Many universities are mentioned in the drop-down menu, and KU is one of them. Students featured try to remove contact but are not authorized to do so.
SOURCE: THEDIRTY.COM
BEHAVING BADLY
Anonymous commenters on "The Dirty" target athletes, greek life and other students
LUKE RANKER
lranker@kansan.com
RACHEL SALYER rsalyer@kansan.com
It might shock a student to see their personal photos online with descriptions like 'desperate shore' or 'the biggest tool.'
Those are some of the phrases used to describe University students on the Dirty, a website operated by Hooman Karmain since 2006.
Karmain, also known as Nik Richie, allows anyone to post unflattering photos of people on his site, generally accompanied by lewd comments about the person's character. Karmain does not verify the accuracy of the posts, but occasionally adds comments of his own.
The website features photos showing members of Kansas Athletics, sorority and fraternity members and other University students.
Jim Marchiony, assistant athletics director, said he was disappointed that the website depicted University students in a negative manner.
"We expect anyone representing the University to conduct themselves
in an appropriate fashion," Marchiony said. "Those pictures do not represent that type of behavior."
The the most recent photos featured members of the Rock Chalk Dance Team in 2010. Marchiony said the Dirty refused Kansas Athletics' request that the photos be removed.
Zack McQuiston, vice president of the KU Interfraternity council, said posts showing members of campus fraternities are not reflective of the Greek community.
"It's disappointing to see something like this," he said. "We try to foster a good relationship with the whole campus."
McQuiston, a junior from Shawnee, said he does not want people to draw conclusions about the greek community based on the Dirty, and he does not endorse use of the website. He said complaints against the website should be handled on an individual basis.
Tom Volek, associate professor of journalism, teaches a First Amendment law class and said the First Amendment protects Karmain's right to aggregate the pictures and posts.
"No, you can't get it taken down,"
Volek said. "You can't tell me what to post on my website."
However, Volek said he was not surprised that the Dirty and Karmain had been sued.
On March 12, the Dirty won a lawsuit in a Kansas City, Mo. district court after a woman claimed that a post about her title "Nasty Church Girl" was defamatory and caused emotional distress. The court ruled that under the Communications Decency Act, Karmanin was not responsible because he did not create or alter the original post. Karmanin did add his own comment to post, describing the woman's gum line, but the court did not find his words to be defamatory.
"Today was a solid day for my legal team not only in Kentucky court, but also with this victory in Missouri," Karmain wrote on the Dirty. "This order is not only strong for the future of the Dirty, but the future of the internet."
The Dirty is currently appealing a lawsuit in Kentucky in which Sarah Jones, a high school teacher, complained that a post accused her of having sexually transmitted diseases and having sex at the school
where she works. In the suit, Jones claimed that the post was destructive to her character. The judge in the Kentucky case ruled in her favor, saying the website is not immune under the CDA because it encourages offensive content and Karmain is therefore responsible for it. The court concluded that the comment Karmain added, saying "Why are all high school teachers freaks in the sack?" was defamatory.
University students who have appeared on the Dirty declined to be interviewed. Attempts to contact Karmain were unsuccessful.
Volek said he believed a case involving the Dirty could make it to the U.S. Supreme Court if Richie gained support from other online publishers who want a broad interpretation of the CDA to protect websites that post material provided by third parties.
"It might sound cynical, but I think it's realistic," he said. "When there's a large sum of money involved it will go to appeal."
- Edited by Ian Cummings
CRIME
No updates on serial rapist
RACHEL SALYER
rsalyer@kansan.com
A serial rapist's attacks in Lawrence and Manhattan during university breaks have prompted safety warnings to students in the past, but none have been issued this year.
Warnings told students to exercise caution and remain aware of sexual assaults. The city of Lawrence, University officials and the Kansas Attorney General issued the warnings after the attorney general announced in March 2009 that six Lawrence rapes, seven Manhattan rapes and an attempted rape in Manhattan may be related, with the last known rape occurring in Lawrence in December 2008.
The last warning issued to students about sexual assault was before the University's spring break last year.
Captain Paul Fellers of the Lawrence police department said the
"Sexual assault is very serious. It can and does happen at many different times during the year." Fellers said. "We do want people to be aware, but we don't want people to let their guard down just because spring break is over."
The rapist is known to stalk his victims and is described as a white male between the age of 25 and 40. He is said to be between 5-foot-9 and six-feet tall and between 160 to 175 pounds. He covered his face during many of the attacks and had some sort of weapon at some of the attacks.
The first known rape occurred during the fall of 2000 in Manhattan, and the first attack in Lawrence was July 2004. All of the victims in Lawrence were University students at the time of the attacks.
agency does not only want students to be aware of sexual assault during break periods but at all times of the year.
No public suspects have been
"The investigation remains open and law enforcement will follow up on all leads," Jeff Wagaman said, Deputy Chief of Staff for the attorney general.
The Emily Taylor Women's Resource Center cautions students to trust their instincts and to always alert someone if they are uncomfortable, even a building manager.
identified in the case, but the attorney general's office said the case is still under investigation.
"A lot of times I will call a friend when I walk alone, and I always lock all my doors," Tran said. "My parents have always taught me safety but being alone on campus and at home has definitely made me more aware of my surroundings."
Theresa Tran, a junior from Liberty, Mo. said she heard about the case previously and always tried to follow safety tips.
Edited by Bre Roach
July 14, 2004 - a man entered an apartment in 3800 block of Clinton Parkway and raped a sleeping University student. She was in her twenties.
Dec. 29, 2004 - a man entered an apartment inside Highpoint Apartments at 2001 W. Sixth Street and raped two female University students, ages 19 and 20.
June 13, 2006 - a 21-year-old sleeping University student was sexually assaulted in her apartment in Southwest Lawrence.
March 22, 2008 - a man entered an apartment in Lorimar Townhomes at 3801 Clinton Parkway and raped a 20-year-old female University student.
Dec. 1, 2008 — a 19-year-old
University student was raped in her
home near Holcom Park.
the student voice since 1904
FASHION
KU students are fashion forward
KELSEY CIPOLLA
kcipolla@kansan.com
KU students have style. At least, KU Style Project thinks they do. This SUA-sponsored event paired five "fashion-challenged" students with student stylists, who
helped them choose $175 worth of new clothes. Each participant modeled three looks Wednesday night in the Kansas Union. The pairs' looks were judged by a panel, which included stylist and blogger Jazzi McG.
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Emma McElhainea, a sophomore from Clay Center, said she wanted to add more color her to her wardrobe and look professional for an internship this summer. Styled by Sherry Farrah, a freshman from Leawood, McElhaney walked down the runway wearing neutral, figure-flattering business casual wear. The audience and judges both voted the duo "Best in Show."
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
Ashley Estrada, a junior from Topeka, encouraged her client, Rebecca Faulkner, a senior from Austin, Texas, to take risks. Faulkner said she was normally self-conscious about showing too much skin, but Estrada's reassurance gave her the confidence to wear shorts.
TRAVIS YOUNG/KANSAN
James Lamsdell, a graduate student from Iver, United Kingdom, said he was struggling to transition his look from grad school comfort to business casual. Taja Loren, a senior from Kansas City, Kan, who styled Lamsdell, said finding clothing for her client was a challenge because of the limited selection of men's clothing in Lawrence's stores. He walked the runway in basics he could wear several different ways.
CLASSIFIEDS 11 CRYPTOQUIPS 4 SPORTS 12
CROSSWORD 4 OPINION 5 SUBORKU 4
All contents, unless stated otherwise. © 2012 The University Daily Kansan
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Today's Weather
The KU School of Music presents Imani Winds "Informance" in Murphy Hall from 9 to 10:30 a.m.
Overcast skies, light south wind with a 20 percent chance of precipitation.