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Recently, students at Malibu High School were reprimanded for adding clips of teachers and students involved in not so flattering moments. According to The Current, Malibu High School’s newspaper, Ruben Scott, a teachers in the film, felt violated by the video, although he did not think the creator of the video had malicious intent.
There are 157 results for the word “Pepperdine” on the YouTube Web site including: clips of the Malibu brush fire, past basketball games, University speakers, episodes of Riptide TV and other clips of the Pepperdine campus and lifestyle. None of the clips associated with the University seem “threatening,” but a few are definitely questionable, and with YouTube’s popularity explosion, videos added to the site could have an affect on how the Pepperdine (and its students) are viewed.
“Great campus with a student body composed of the most terrible people you'll ever meet,” commented one user on a video of Seaver Drive.
Another user comments, “I am an alumnus (1978), and I have to agree. These are the same people who brought us Ronald Reagan, Kenneth Star, and other right-wing fanatics. I'm ashamed to have studied there.”
These comments, opinions that have no direct reflection on the attitudes of most students have been viewed more than 1,000 times.
One video showing a female student being “interviewed” suggests The Malibu Inn is where the party is. The student is told the film is for a Web site of college viewpoints, but the beginning focus of the shot is mainly on the victim’s breasts and one can assume the student was probably not aware the clip would be appearing on YouTube. Again, this clip has been viewed more than 1000 times.
Another video, produced in 2002, shows Pepperdine students sneaking onto the Loyola Marymount Campus and pouring a variety of bubble products into the LMU fountain.
Although these films are not necessarily threatening to the university’s reputation, the film is available for millions across the United States and world to view and judge at any moment.
“YouTube is a source of entertainment. I watch videos all the time,” said sophomore Tim Hatters.
While not Pepperdine related, what about the video clips of people involved in embarrassing situations, such as the recent addition of the Bridezilla who frantically cut her hair off one hour before her wedding, or the girlfriend who said “no” to her boyfriend’s marriage proposal in front of an entire stadium?
Unlike professional films, contracts do not need to be signed before the films are added to the website, therefore what may be hilarious to thousands of YouTube users, may be a source of pain and embarrassment to others.
“I have never known anyone who has been videotaped and put on YouTube, but I guess I would be pretty upset if someone put me on there and didn’t tell me first,” said freshman Amber Andrusak.
There are no guidelines for what can and cannot be put on YouTube, and use of the site has never been addressed to the Pepperdine student body. Either way, if YouTube continues to lack rules defining unacceptable footage, lives and reputations will continued to be ruined for the sake of amusement.
This is the danger of YouTube, a danger that can only be prevented if the Web site creates a way to screen the video clips added and protect those victimized by such clips.
Submitted 02-01-2007
MALIBU, CA
