Alleged adult film reps. solicit female on Green
By Linda Chen
Published on Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Correction appended
Two men claiming to be representatives of Girls Gone Wild, a video franchise promoting female exhibitionism, approached a sorority member wearing clothing displaying her sorority's name on the Green and requested an interview on Tuesday, according to director of Safety and Security Harry Kinne.
Kinne said Safety and Security has not confirmed whether the two men are affiliated with Girls Gone Wild.
A Dartmouth student and sorority member was approached by the two men, who told her they were looking for attractive girls to interview, according to an e-mail sent to members of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority from Megan Fallon, assistant director of the Center for Woman and Gender and the sorority's adviser. After repeatedly declining to comment to the men, the student contacted her sorority, the e-mail said. Fallon's e-mail also noted that Safety and Security had been made aware of the occurrence and was looking for the men.
The Dartmouth Panhellenic Council responded by sending an e-mail to sorority presidents about the incident, telling sorority members to contact Safety and Security if they were similarly approached.
Kinne did not provide the names or sorority affiliations of the students who had been approached.
Girls Gone Wild representatives are expected to come to Hanover next week, Kinne said, but were not expected on Tuesday. Any individuals on the Green for commercial reasons must register with the College or will otherwise be asked to leave, Kinne said.
Hanover Police was notified of the incident but received no formal complaints, Hanover Police Chief Nicholas Giaccone told The Dartmouth. Hanover Police has does not have jurisdiction on the Green unless a crime is in progress or a complaint is reported directly, he said. Giaccone added that similar incidents have occurred in the past, but were not officially reported.
Panhellenic Council President Amaka Nneji '10 said she spoke to a Safety and Security officer Tuesday afternoon following the incident. The officer told her that Safety and Security is committed to finding the two men, she said.
"The whole Dartmouth community was surprised that [Girls Gone Wild] came to us," Nneji said. "They have reacted with solidarity that it is not acceptable for Girls Gone Wild to approach any girl on campus."
Nneji said has no specific knowledge about previous interactions between sorority members and representatives from the franchise, but noted that she saw a Girls Gone Wild van drive through campus last year.
Panhell executives will hold a meeting today to discuss the incident and any related student concerns, Ashley Cartagena '10, Panhell's vice president of communications, said.
Panhell plans to send an e-mail to campus inviting any concerned students to the meeting, Nneji said. The meeting will be an informal discussion, she said, adding that she hopes it will reassure students that the problem is being addressed.
Cartagena expressed concern "for every sister and every female on campus."
"We want to prevent this from happening in the future," Cartagena said. "This is not a positive thing for the community. It is offensive, and we will do whatever we can as a community to make sure everyone is supported."
Sorority leaders immediately notified sorority members after receiving Panhell's e-mail, Michelle Chan '10, public relations vice president of Alpha Xi Delta sorority said. Members were encouraged to voice their concerns and report any new incidents to Safety and Security, she said.
"No sister should ever feel threatened if they are wearing their letters," Chan said.
The original version of this article incorrectly stated that an email sent to members of Kappa Delta Epsilon sorority from Megan Fallon, assistant director of the Center for Woman and Gender and the sorority's adviser, stated that the student who was approached by the alleged representatives on the Green reported the incident to Safety and Security. In fact, Fallon's email only said that Safety and Security had been made aware of the occurrence and was looking for the involved men.
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