FOR THE WEEK OF OCT. 04, 2010
Rutgers student's suicide again spotlights the consequences of cyberbullying
References to YouTube, Facebook and Twitter abound throughout your newspaper today, espcially in the ads. Why? What's the the draw for advertisers to be on your social network?
Bullying is a hot-button issue these days. Craft a letter to the editor as a class to voice your concern over the topic and list the ways you think your school should combat the problem.
Have you ever been bullied? Do you know someone who has? What was the outcome? Is it still going on?
Grief and outrage over the discovery of a Rutgers University freshman's suicide last week continues to reverberate on college campuses and high schools across the country. Tyler Clementi is the 13th teen to commit suicide because of alleged cyberbullying, prompting renewed calls for compassion in online conduct as well as legislation to deal with cyber harassment. Clementi's roomate and another student now face serious criminal charges, including invasion of privacy.
Excerpts from an NPR panel discussion on the tragedy
Psychiatrist says:
"The tools of the Internet enabled this cruel or sadistic behavior to be amplified and publicized, not just on the campus, but throughout the world. And that really contributed to the extreme emotional reaction that the student had and his impulsive decision to take his life."
-- DR. JEFF LIEBERMAN
Department of psychiatry chairman, Columbia University
Politician says:
"Those people who helped to lead him to that bridge are going to have to bear that responsibility for the rest of their lives."
-- CHRIS CHRISTIE
New Jersey Governor
Journalist says:
"I think it would be great if we came out of this with something we could call the Rutgers rules, which is where -- teach the students where you have an expectation of privacy, for example, in your dorm room, and the cardinal rule of consent. It is OK to broadcast something -- you can exchange information consensually, but not without the consent of the person who is being videotaped."
-- WILLIAM SALETAN
National Correspondent, Slate.com
Ironically, the same malevolent Internet that tormented Celemnti could have provided him some assistance.
Googling "suicide prevention" delivers links to:
Front Page Talking Points Archive
Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.
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