Philadelphia Daily News | 12/01/2005 | Sex-Act Pix Shake Penn

Philadelphia Daily News | 12/01/2005 | Sex-act pix shake Penn http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/13298682.htm

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Welcome Guest Search nmlkji Recent News nmlkj Archives nmlkj Web for Go Sign Up | Sign In | Member Benefits Philly.com Back to Home > Thursday, Dec 01, 2005 Today's Inquirer email this print this reprint or license this Today's Daily News Posted on Thu, Dec. 01, 2005 Sex-act pix shake Penn

By REGINA MEDINA [email protected]

WHEN A COUPLE performed a sexual act in front of a University of Pennsylvania dorm window earlier this year, at least two cameras clicked away.

The couple's faces are not identifiable. Only a pair of buttocks, a pair of legs and a bare back City & Local News can be seen from the window. The gender is Sports unclear. YO! Features Opinion Yet the grainy photos have touched off a Columnists controversy that has roiled the Ivy League campus and once again has plunged Penn into National News a rip-roaring controversy over free speech and R E L A T E D L I N K S Obituaries student rights. • John Baer | How lawmakers could spend One of the photographers, an unidentified Penn That Raise junior engineering student, is facing sexual • Stu Bykofsky | War, seemingly, hasn't harassment and related charges from the reached the home front Attytood school. State Cop Scandals • Ronnie Polaneczky | Give fans a final resting zone Girlfriends' Locker Those involved with the student's case say the Room charges arose after someone complained about • Schoolmate, pal held in killing of young the photographer to the Office of Student Philly Feed father Conduct, which handles misconduct allegations. DN Photo Gallery M O R E N E W S F R O M Rethinking According to the Daily Pennsylvanian, the • Activism Philadelphia accused student posted some of the sex photos Urban Journalism on his Penn Web page. • Journalism Workshop • Standardized Testing Other shots were widely circulated via e-mail on the West Philly campus, the paper said. One • Education now appears on the popular Web site collegehumor. com.

The proposed discipline includes probation, a permanent mark on the student's college record, a letter of apology and an essay that would require reflection on the student's part of what he did wrong, said Andrew Geier, a psychology graduate student who is advising the student.

The hearing is slated for this afternoon.

The university's decision has renewed a running debate on the campus over issues of free speech Affiliates versus so-called "political correctness," which places a higher value on blocking actions deemed Bucks Midweek sexually or racially offensive. Montco Midweek In the most famous episode, in 1993, a Penn freshman battled harassment charges after he shouted at Northeast Times some black students he thought were loud, calling them "water buffalo." Philadelphia Zoo Taste of Alan Charles Kors, the Penn history professor who defended that student a dozen years ago, is now Philadelphia supporting the student charged in the sex-photo incident. Franklin Institute Kors said that shortly after the 1993 incident, the Penn Board of Trustees guaranteed students the Homes and Living

1 of 3 12/1/2005 4:43 PM Philadelphia Daily News | 12/01/2005 | Sex-act pix shake Penn http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/13298682.htm

Beach and Bay same rights of free expression that public-school students would have under the U.S. Constitution. He Homes added that he believes that the university's decision has "already chilled free speech on campus." Active Adult Housing Kors said he'll take over the student's case if today's hearing goes against him. My Wedding Penn spokeswoman Lori Doyle would not discuss details. Jobs "The disciplinary process is confidential, but we're hopeful that this matter can be resolved quickly and Cars satisfactorily... ," she said. Real Estate The pictures, which show a room in Penn's Hamilton College House dormitory, were taken and posted Apartments on the Web in September. Local Shopping • Find Sales & Deals The Daily News sent the Daily Pennsylvanian story to a photojournalism expert who works with the • Shop Local Stores Poynter Institute, the Florida-based journalism think tank. He said the photo should be protected speech. All Classifieds Dating "No one is identified in this picture," said Kenny Irby, visual-journalism group leader and diversity director at Poynter. "That's clearly a public space at a window in public view." He added there's an equal questions as to "why these two are having sex in front of a window."

Geier, the student's adviser, is dumbfounded by the serious charges, including the inappropriate use of Attention Freelance electronic resources. Writers: Click for Copyright "Saddam Hussein is receiving better treatment by his captors than this kid has gotten by this Class Action university," said Geier, who said he has spoken with the American Civil Liberties Union about the Settlement Info student's case.

Geier declined to reveal the photographer's name, citing privacy reasons, but he did say the junior was "doing quite well."

Geier said the photo appearing on the college humor site is actually one taken by another photographer who witnessed the same sexual act.

Internet postings by readers of the student paper's online version were overwhelmingly supportive of the student.

"What a joke! Close the freakin' blinds. Tomorrow I plan to walk to class naked with a yellow stripe and I'll sue anyone who takes a pic," wrote J Siev, a Penn grad student.

A 2001 grad living in Manhattan wrote: "If you're having sex in public, you can't expect privacy. Close the damn curtains! They were probably trying to 'put on a show.' "

But some posters defended the woman who apparently complained. "Why hasn't anyone not though [sic] about the rights of the student who is pictured? YES, they were indecent and in the view of the public... sort of.

"If you live in the high rise directly across from them AND use binoculars to stare into other people's rooms! What kind of hobby is that for an 'upstanding, Penn student' on a fridaynight!"

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