www.ownwhatyouthink Antithesis to Juicy Campus

The internet is a powerful tool.

When it is used in positive ways it is something that improves the quality of life and gives added help to individuals in their quest for knowledge and growth.

However, when it is used for evil or malice it can be detrimental to all internet users in the "web society" as a whole. Responsible internet use should be ever present on our minds and in our hearts, if not for now, for the future generations we have charge over.

One of the problems that can be faced by networking, or on-line communication, is the power of anonymity. It is certainly much easier to express ones opinion, for example in a blog or a post, then to do so face to face with the individual that may hold an opposing view.

Anonymity can give one a sense of false empowerment, or security, to give expression in ways that they might never have even dreamed of before.

One such source that has surfaced among the University level web user is called "Juicy Campus." Not to promote the degrading and offensive site, but simply to inform the public of this predator amongst our midst, an explanation of what "Juicy Campus" is, is required.

Founder of this gossip spewing site is Matt Ivester, a 2005 Duke University graduate, who simply professes to have had a desire to create a site about "all the ridiculous things we did and the hilarious stories." Instead the site has turned into an on-line smear campaign damaging reputations and ruining lives.

The site promotes an anonymous forum giving users a chance to post anything about anyone they want, whether it is true or false. It talks about people who do drugs, reveals who might be gay, who is promiscuous, who is pretty, who is fat, how many boys has a certain girl slept with, and other "useful" college information. The site implores its users to post "juicy" items to increase traffic views. Names and even phone numbers and addresses are posted on the site, and according to Ivester, there is no intention of taking them off.

The site itself was introduced to a few campuses around the country, and has now spread to 60 different schools like a dreaded disease.

Its popularity soared from a few thousand hits to more than 250,000 page views in a matter of months. Some people just couldn't get enough of the gossip that was spread on the site, while others were constantly checking to make sure they were not the next target.

An antithesis to this nasty plague has surfaced in a site called http://www.ownwhatyouthink.com/ .

It is an example of what students who desire to take control back over their lives can do, uniting with power to stop a site like "Juicy Campus", by taking a stand against it. These are students at Princeton University, led by sophomore class president Connor Diemand-Yauman.

The group started their campaign by wearing shirts saying "Anonymity = Cowardice." They collected positive statements about other students and projected them on a screen for the entire campus to see to try and regain harmony in their school.

On their website they state that they seek to "unite people and bring personal accountability back into the ways in which we communicate and interact with each other." In an attempt to have an arena where students can collaborate in a constructive manner they have created this site, battling the enemy at large.

According to a report done by 20/20, Diemand-Yauman said, ""Princeton should be an example that we can change things, that we don't have to sit down and just hope that it will go away, I don't think we truly understand how empowering it can be to read something positive."

Following on the heels of Princeton, Pepperdine University's student government tried to have the site banned from the school's computers, while several Facebook groups have sprung up against the site also. These groups are imploring students to simply stop logging into and using the site.

As I read about the one terrible site that was spreading though our schools like a scourge I was disheartened by the lack of accountability that was shown by the creators of the site. It made me saddened to think that others were suffering by the cruel remarks and slander that was posted on this "tabloid" about our youth.

But, as sad as I am about that, I wanted to take time to rejoice in the hope and encouragement that was exhibited by a promising generation as they untied to form the "Own What You Think" group.

Hats off to you my friends; there is still a future for us to dream of! A few good people united can still make a difference!

Let's give this group some positive exposure... give it a thumbs up if you liked the Hub...social bookmark it so others can view it too.

How have you seen the youth of today exhibit positive influences to society?...tell us in a comment.