A feminist student group at the University of Mary Washington has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education accusing the school of failing to respond adequately to cyber threats on the new popular social media app Yak Yak. One of the members of the group was killed last month; however, it is unclear if her activism had anything to do with the murder, the group saying they have no evidence to that end.
Feminists United announced on their Facebook page Tuesday thaat they would be holding a press conference Thursday with their attorneys and Feminist Majority's Ellie Smeal about the their "concerns." United's attorney Lisa Banks said the group will announce a complaint that the university failed to respond after members were cyber-stalked and threatened with death and sexual assault.
The threats came after group members condemned aspects of Greek life and exposed a lewd chant by the rugby team. United says that they received more than 700 threatening messages, many personally targeting members. The Washington Post reports:
“I felt deeply unsafe at many points,” said Paige McKinsey, the outgoing president of the university’s Feminists United group. “I made sure to walk with people. I made sure my apartment door was locked and told people where I was going.”
School officials said they acted on all threats of violence or sexual assault on the social-media site and that student safety is their top priority.
“If we receive any complaints, we investigate them and offer extra security as needed,” said school spokeswoman Anna Billingsley.
The issue was heightened after one of United's board members, Grace Rebecca Mann, 20, was slain by her roommate, Steven Vander Briel, who has been charged with first-degree murder and abduction. The murder has not been connected to Briel's feminist activism, police saying they do not have a motive yet and United saying they have no evidence that Yik Yak threats had anything to do with the crime.
The Post notes that in the last year, 13 students have been arrested for posting various threats on Yik Yak, including mass shootings and bombings.
