Controversial Juicy Campus Website in Legal Trouble

Juicy Campus, the multi-college message board where students anonymously post malicious comments about each other, is facing legal action in New Jersey, where prosecutors have subpoenaed the website’s records. The NJ Attorney General is trying to bring the site down on a technicality of sorts, by accusing Juicy Campus of violating the state's Consumer Fraud Act – because while the site claims it doesn't allow offensive material, there is no way for users to report or dispute slanderous comments.

Since it was founded by Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity brother Matt Ivester in August 2007, Juicy Campus has cooperated with police seeking people who post about the occasional shooting spree. But students like the Yale sophomore whose appearances in gay pornography were revealed on JuicyCampus, or the 21-year-old Baylor junior who was named the ‘Biggest Slut on Campus,’ have few legal options. The founder of Reputation Defender tells the Times that “legally, Juicy Campus is fully, absolutely immune, no matter what it runs on its site from users, just like AOL is not responsible for nasty comments in its AOL chat rooms.”

The New Jersey case is the first real legal action, though many campuses like Columbia are considering banning the site, and some Sigma Phi brothers are distancing themselves from Ivester because they site gives frat boys a bad name. Sigma Phi brother Aulden Burcher told the Times: “Look at what it does to the Greek system: rankings, sex, drugs, what happened at parties. Nobody is made better by it.” Thanks to Juicy Campus, people are getting totally the wrong impression of fraternities.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in News on March 19, 2008 12:27 PM

Comments [rss]

jsh2134

PROOF THAT JUICYCAMPUS ISNT anonymous.

I found site that says juicy campus is not actually anonymous and your identity can be found out.

http://www.juicycampusrevealed.com

jessecal

Exactly what is 'offensive comments'. . . -and to whom are these 'offensive comments' offensive?

Geez- (or Jesus Christ!) is American actually trying to sanitize America? Is this the next idiotic step in trying to make everyone in America 'feel good'?! -Like when even the entire losing middle school lacross team- get an AWARD-

for losing!!!

America seems to be imploding in 'correctness'!!

Steven

This is good site to spread rumors around the campus of a college.

Banana

sooo...how come the gothamist baby hitler hasn't commented yet?

Nick S

now that our bromance is in the spotlight, I feel like i should admit that I had an illicit affair with Toby von Meistersinger during a rough period.

chuzzlewit

"What is the Greek system?"

ooh ooh -I know this one from world history 8th grade - okay, the Greek System is when they would take off their clothes and put oil all over themselves and then wrestle.

Nick S

haha NICE!

bklynd

You'd think the AG would have better things to do.

There is obviously a low standard of discourse on the internet, and it sounds like what this site offers is business as usual. Some crybaby with connections got them to cook up a suit - those are valuable resources that could be put towards prosecuting an actual crook.

Dave Hogarty

I'm so glad I dropped out of the top 5 of gothamist users.

Bluealways

Frat boys give frat boys a bad name.

Tim N.

BH isn't a troll, he's just... a little mixed up, is all.

Matty & Nick... mazel tov. When's the housewarming? Are you registered anywhere?

BMMDan

you know you hit it big when you're photoshopped into a gothamist graphic. sigh....someday, bmmdan. someday.

aveB4life

baby hitler gets famous!

donner

JDS- Great job with the graphic!!

matty

Omg I feel so exposed! (Yet somehow relieved)

Nick S. and I have a love only two bros can have.

MFer

What is the Greek system? Someone explain. I don't want to get the wrong impression of fraternities. And don't tell me Animal House wasn't true to life.