Update: PSU Prez: Could be time to review frat system
Pennsylvania State University fraternity brothers who posted pictures of nude or partly nude women on a private Facebook page could be charged under a state law, known commonly as the "revenge porn" law, that went into effect in September.
Update: Penn State President Eric Barron said Friday the Kappa Delta Rho case "brings us to a point where we must ask if a reevaluation of the fraternity system is required." He added: "Some members of the university senior leadership believe it is, and we are considering our options." This story is still developing and no other details are available yet.
Earlier story:
Pennsylvania State University fraternity brothers who posted pictures of nude or partly nude women on a private Facebook page could be charged under a state law, known commonly as the "revenge porn" law, that went into effect in September.
State College Police Chief Thomas King said Wednesday that police could charge those responsible under that law if they had been in romantic relationships with the women and did not have permission to post the photos.
The criminal offense - "unlawful dissemination of intimate images" - would be a second-degree misdemeanor, he said.
King's department is investigating allegations that members of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity posted pictures of nude and partly nude women, some of whom appeared to be sleeping or passed out, on two invitation-only Facebook pages.
The fraternity's national office on Tuesday announced that it was suspending the Penn State chapter for a year, and university officials said they would look to discipline any students found responsible.
Penn State president Eric Barron told the Associated Press on Wednesday that any students found responsible could be expelled.
"I can't imagine anybody that's not appalled by the alleged behavior," he said.
King said police were likely weeks away from making any arrests, as they await forensic analysis of evidence gathered through a search warrant. Police must prove that the photos were posted illegally and the identity of the person or people who posted them, he said.
He said police could also charge the culprits with harassment or invasion of privacy. "Those are the types of crimes we are pursuing," King said.
He said he hoped victims and other witnesses, including people who belonged to the Facebook group and viewed the material but did not post anything, would cooperate.
"We hope they understand the seriousness of this," he said.
A former member of Kappa Delta Rho tipped off police to two invitation-only Facebook pages in January, according to an affidavit of probable cause filed by King's department.
King said he did not know the member's motivation.
It is unclear how long the Facebook pages had been online. The more recent page, titled 2.0, listed 144 active members, including students and alumni, and had been posted for at least eight months before the January report by the former member.
"Some of the postings were of nude females that appeared to be passed out and nude or in other sexual or embarrassing positions," according to the 25-page affidavit. "It appears from the photos provided that the individuals in the photos are not aware that the photos had been taken."
No trespassing signs were posted Wednesday on the lawn of the Tudor-style fraternity house on 420 E. Prospect Ave., apparently a reaction to a wave of media interest.
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