Sexual Assault Education Prevention Program hosts online harassment workshop

What can you do to help prevent harmless online flirting from turning into harassment? What does sexting have to do with domestic violence? How is social media involved in it all?

These questions and more were the focus of the Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Program’s online harassment workshop held Tuesday, Jan. 26 from 12-1 p.m. in the Student Union.

According to Lindsay Tuttle, the coordinator of both SAEPP and the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs program at the University of Toledo, the goal of the workshop was to help the university community become more aware of the resources that are available to them through the counseling center and SAEPP. Tuttle said the program had roughly 25 people attend.

“Obviously technology is in the forefront,” Tuttle said. “We know that social media is not going our way and having people understand some of implications that can then occur and some of the issues that can occur with oversharing on social media.”

The workshop hosted three speakers and focused on a discussion-based atmosphere, explained Tuttle. The atmosphere was meant to allow people the opportunity to ask questions and engage in the topics presented.

“People have the ability to ask questions, sit around and eat some pizza … and really have a frank conversation about some of the issues that are occurring all over college campuses,” Tuttle said.

The speakers included Lisa Pescara-Kovach, an associate professor of educational psychology, and Oregon police division detectives Janet Zale and Ryan Spangler.

“We talked about pretty much just the difference between men’s and women’s online crimes,” said Jordyn Panza, a first-year majoring in criminal justice who attended the event. “How each gender is kind of victimized and the consequences of them aren’t the same.”

Zale stated that her hope for the event was to get all the information out there so that the community can work together to help one another.

“I talked a little bit about reporting warning signs,” Pescara-Kovach said. “Seeing something on social media that someone is posting as a threat … making sure you keep your eyes peeled over anything that is communicated electronically or verbally.”

Zale said there are less than 20 cases a year reported about on-campus crimes involving juveniles and social media misuse.

“When we discussed sexting, it was what is considered illegal for juveniles and not considered illegal for adults and where that fine line is as far as when something is done that could be considered criminal or civil or none of the above,” Zale said.

One main point Panza made at the event was that sexting is legal for adults, so a majority of cases involving those over 18 cannot be investigated unless there is full documentation of harassment.

“It is so hard because my initial response would be don’t send naked pictures but it’s such a big part of relationships and flirting for adults,” Zale said. “I can’t tell an adult not to send a naked picture of themselves — it’s legal, it’s your first amendment right, so … just think before you post things.”

Other topics of discussion at the event included domestic violence and multiple aspects of internet behavior including social media.

“Use your best judgment when you’re dealing with social media and putting yourself out there because while it may be this recipient today it may be thousands of recipients tomorrow,” Spangler said.

To reach out to the UT Counseling Center and SAEPP for assistance or with questions you can go to their office located in Rocket Hall Room 1810 or call 419-530-2426.