Reporting Online Harassment and Harm
Reporting Online Harassment and Harm
Anonymous platforms and apps are not sponsored, endorsed, or moderated by the University. Messiah University administrators do not control or participate in what gets posted on anonymous platforms. It is important to note that posts, even if referring to University individuals, organizations, or events, do not represent the University and have not been verified for accuracy.
Most anonymous platforms are run by private companies that protect the information of who has access to create an account and the identity of those that post or respond to posts using the platform. Content moderation may be through the company or its individual moderators. This means that the University has very limited reach when dealing with anonymous platform moderation.
However, Messiah University does expect the online conduct of students and employees to be consistent with community expectations; conduct may be reported when it violates those expectations and the University will respond to reports of harm.
Community members may report concerning online content and interactions through the following channels:
- Actions, even under anonymity, have consequences and may require accountability. If a post is offensive, harmful, violent, threatening, or harassing, the post can be reported directly to the site where it is posted.
- It is important to take screenshots of the posts. Include those screenshots in a report to the platform and describe why the posts are harmful.
- Moderators of the individual platforms will evaluate the reported concern and remove the post(s) if there is a violation of terms of service and participation.
- Individuals who created the original post(s) may be notified of their removal.
- University community members that wish to file a complaint of online harassment or harm may be submitted online: www.messiah.edu/incident. This form also provides an anonymous reporting option.
- To report an allegation in person (or to address questions and concerns), contact one of the following University resources:
- Hannah McBride (Director of Standards and Conduct)
hmcbride@messiah.edu or 717-796-1800 ext. 2608 - Doug Wood (Vice Provost of Student Success & Engagement/Dean of Students)
dwood@messiah.edu or 717-796-1800 ext. 3200 - Maranda Hogue (Director of Safety)
mhogue@messiah.edu or 717-796-1800 ext. 2631 - Messiah University Safety Department at: 717-791-6005
- Hannah McBride (Director of Standards and Conduct)
- To hear reporting and response options confidentially or to submit an anonymous report in person, community members at Messiah University may contact:
- Emma Dougherty (Prevention & Education Specialist)
edougherty@messiah.edu or 717-796-1800, ext. 7085
- Emma Dougherty (Prevention & Education Specialist)
- Online harm that may violate federal or state law may be reported to and discussed with the police, including concerns of defamation, digital sexual exploitation, and threats of violence.
- It is important to take screenshots of the posts. Include those screenshots in your report to the police.
- The police may want to know additional actions you have taken, such as reporting to the platform, reporting to the University, and/or retaining legal representation for civil action.
- Upper Allen Police can be contacted at 717-795-2445 for non-emergency reporting or scheduling to meet with a Detective.
Online images or videos that are posted without your consent and include intimate content can be reported to the FTC under the Take It Down Act.