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college newspaper is slandering me
I have a question that I really can't ask anyone else about because it is too humiliating. Well at the college I go to there is a weekly campus newspaper. I was reading the classified section the other day and under personals it had my name (just my first name), and then is said (my name), STAY AWAY!! I thought it was just a one time thing but then the next week it had my name under the personals again and this time is said (my name)," masturbation is fun."
This guy that had been really mean to me even brought it up, and asked me if I had been reading the paper. I can't prove that it was him doing this, but isnt this a form of harassmant, or slander? Could I sue the college over this? This guy that has been mean to me is a reporter for the paper.
What are my rights? They are only using my first name so they could always say they were talking about someone else, but I know it's about me.
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You can't do much because, as you said so yourself, they aren't using your full name. You may want to take it up with the head of the newspaper and have them stop putting your first name in there, though.
Be sure to forcefully uppercut that guy, too, next time you see him.
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ah dear i thought people were supposed to grow up whe they went to uni. The way I see it you have 3 options:
1) revenge (always sweet but brings you down to their level)
2)Ignoring the little boy doing this so as not to give him the satisfaction of thinking he's bothered you
3) Taking up with the paper or your dean what sort of paper publishes a "personal" saying "maturbation is fun" or ust "Stay away". Regardless of wherther it is about you or not, surely they're all bright enough to realise these are designed to get at someone.
I shouldn't worry about it too much. If the person's not big and brave enough to bitch to your face they're not worth it and if this "paper" publishes these things they clearly have no professional pride and should be filed under the heading "forum for idiot students to express their bitchings and opinions no-one will listen to in real life". Screw em.
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You have every right to complain to the people in charge of the newspaper and the dean of students about this and that's what you should do. Our daily paper would never EVER even think about doing what your paper is doing. What they are doing is both unethical,hurtful, and wrong. If the paper won't handle it, your dean will.
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This guy sounds pretty scary to me. Much more so because he made reference to a sexual act in regards to you. And then, he asks you if you've been reading the paper. Well, at first I was going to ask you how you knew for sure this was about you, but then when you said that this jerk was a reporter for the paper and he'd asked you about reading it, I, too, felt that he is more than likely responsible for this harrassment.
I doubt that you can sue anyone over this due to the fact - as others have said - that your last name was not used. However, I would go to as many higher-ups as you can. The editor of the paper is apt to be another student, so go to the faculty advisor for the paper and speak with him or her. Take issues of the paper that have these personal ads and tell the advisor that this guy has been harrassing you, and make sure you mention that he came out and asked you if you've been reading the paper.
Have a talk with your own advisor, the Dean of Student Affairs, your SRA if you live in a dorm, and anyone else you can think of. I know this is dreadfully embarrassing to you and I understand. However, keep in mind that most likely no one else is aware that these ads have anything to do with you. But you must get this guy to stop what he's doing NOW. Take the issues of the paper with you to each meeting.
If it's possible, whenever this guy approaches you, leave his presence immediately. If you know much about his schedule and when and if you might run into him, try to have someone with you. IF he approaches you and you're confronted with more harrassment, start keeping a journal of the things he says or does with date and time. If you can remember other things he's said or done (the "mean" things), record them as well even if you don't remember dates and times. Include this information whenever you speak with an authority about this situation.
I would be much more concerned about this guy's harrassment - of any kind - than I would about what your rights are re: suing the paper. It sounds to me like this guy has the potential for being dangerous. I don't mean to frighten you, but I'm obviously concerned about what he is capable of doing.
Good luck and I hope you get this ugly situation resolved soon! I would love to hear from you again as you start the process of dealing with this jerk.
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I would contact the advisor of the college newspaper and explain what's going on. I'm not sure it's necessarily slander because it's using only your first name, but I would definitely consider it harassment. If it continues after you speak to the advisor, find out who the department head is or try speaking to the Dean of Student Affairs. Good luck.
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You cannot sue a college over something like this. However, you can get this guy in trouble, and hopefully make him loose his job writing for the paper. Simply go to his boss, the head of this newspaper. Bring all the evidence you can, and have a sit down meeting with her or him. Tell them that this guy has been harassing you.
As far as sueing this guy for slander, if you have the money for a lawyer and you want to, you can certiantly talk to someone about this. In order to prove defamation, you have to be able to prove that what was said or written about you was false. If the information is true, or if you consented to publication of the material, you will not have a case. However, you may bring an defamatory action if the comments are so reprehensible and false that they effect your reputation in the community or cast aspersions on you. However, this might be extremely difficult since your last name was not printed. If you want to go this route, I suggest you carry a tape recorder with you, and when this jerk talks to you again, hit record. This can be proof, if he says the right things.
Good Luck,
Tipsy Gypsy
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