WESTFIELD- A Westfield State University spokesperson said July 1 that despite social media posts from a student claiming he was found to have done nothing wrong regarding messages sent over a dating app, the school’s investigation is not complete.
The statement by Westfield State came after the student alleged to have sent disturbing text messages to a woman over the dating app Tinder, claimed that WSU investigators informed him that he had “done no wrong.”
“Westfield State University’s investigation process pertaining to the highly offensive comments over social media is not final, despite assertions made by an individual’s social media post late Tuesday. No decision has been issued by the University, and there is no finding that the subject has “done no wrong,” as stated in that social media post. The investigation and resolution process remain active and open. We condemn any insensitive act by a member of our community, whether on campus or online,” said the statement from WSU.
Late Tuesday evening, the student posted a message claiming he had been absolved of wrongdoing by WSU for his disturbing messages to another student. In his message he said he would forgive those who “left him” during the investigation.
Krystle Melanson [far left] addresses the crowd and the WSU administration at the first protest on June 22. [PETER CURRIER PHOTO]
After Tinder messages between the student and an unidentified woman were leaked on social media, students began protesting what they perceived as a lack of actcion on the part of the university. In the messages, the two appeared to have been arguing about the role of police in America.
In the screenshots sent to The Westfield News by multiple sources, the student states, “cops are the reason [you’re] not raped every day.” When the woman responded that his statement had made no sense, he followed up by saying, “Who’s to stop someone like me from raping [you] without the cops,” said the student, “You? What would you do if I were to metaphorically rape you?” he wrote.
Despite the student‘s claims in support of police, protesters were quick to point out that police officers rarely, if ever, stop a rape or sexual assault in progress.
According to the leaked messages, the student is a criminal justice major, the largest major at WSU.
The leaked messages sparked protests on the WSU campus in which dozens of demonstrators demanded the student’s expulsion and a dramatic change to how the university handles incidences of sexual assault and racism.
Krystle Melanson, one of the organizers of the protests alongside Angela D’agata, said that the student’s post shows a lack of remorse for his actions.
“[The student] posting on social media in regard to the university finding that he has done no wrong was a completely false narrative that he decided to try out in order to acquit himself of what everyone else is already very aware he is guilty of,” said the protester’s statement. “This lack of remorse is a strong reminder that the university has an obligation to act swiftly and remove [the student] as a student as he continues to tarnish the reputation of the university.”
Melanson said that WSU’s handling of the investigation has been poor, despite their condemnation of “insensitive acts” by a member of the WSU community.
“They ended their post by stating that they condemn any insensitive act by a member of their community, whether online or on campus; however, their actions prove otherwise. They have repetitively stated that the health and safety of their students is of paramount priority to them but the current administration’s actions prove just the opposite,” she said.
Melanson’s statement concluded by saying that they are excited to have the incoming interim President Dr. Roy H. Saigo take over after current President Ramon S. Torrecilha retires later this month.
The protesters have come to the WSU campus the last two Mondays at 4:30 p.m.. They said they plan on returning to the campus green again on July 6 at 4:30 p.m..
