Cyberbullying Leads to Brutality

Cyberbullying is a societal problem that has garnered national media attention with the recent suicides of two teenage girls, one from West Islip.

Another West Islip teen, Mary Kate Bell, was also a victim of cyberbullying this year. Mary Kate's technological taunting ended in a vicious and brutal attack that left her hospitalized for three days and in need of reconstructive surgery on her face. 

Before being physically attacked Mary Kate was threatened via text messages on her phone and on Facebook.

Ironically, Mary Kate's attacker was back in school before she was. "After the girl got suspended, she kept making threats over the Internet. She went back to school before our daughter. Why wasn't she put in alternative school?" asked Mr. Bell.

State senators Kemp Hannon, R, Garden City, and Owen Johnson, R, West Babylon, gathered Mary Kate and her parents along with approximately two-dozen child advocates May 20 for a roundtable discussion about this critical issue facing countless teens in the region.  

Hannon's 21-year history as a New York State senator has led to technology laws.  His latest piece of legislation, S7158, increases penalties for hazing and prohibits bullying and cyberbullying. He gathered his panel at the Bay Shore-Bright Waters Library and it consisted of members of the Suffolk County Police Department, school superintendants, child psychologists and child advocates like Laura Ahearn, executive director of Parents for Megan's Law.

"Your bill touches on every component – curriculum, punitive measures, having a registry which would require someone to call school or law enforcement," said Ahearn.

Cyberbullying is bullying with the use of technology such as a cell phone, a computer or digital counterpart such as a Blackberry or apparatus where Internet access is available. Kids often use social networking sites such as Facebook as a weapon. With over 400,000,000 members, Facebook is not the only site used but definitely the most popular. 

"They live in a secret world. She did not tell her siblings," said Mrs. Bell. Mary Kate is one of five children and during her ordeal, she did not reach out to her family.   

The secrecy, due to embarrassment or fear, is a problem seen with many victims of bullying. That's why so many anti-bullying programs discuss the three Bs: the bully, the bullied and the bystander. Experts believe the solution lies with the bystander – someone coming forward to report the psychological or physical abuse. 

"A big problem is (cyberbullying) is faceless," said Mr. Bell.

Jessica Klein, assistant professor at Adelphi University specializing in sociology and criminology, is presently writing a book on cyberbullying. "We have to talk about changing the culture – it's no longer OK to do it on your own," she said.

Klein believes helping victims reach out to someone, along with prevention programs, are both critical to solving this crisis.

Both the Bells and Sen. Hannon also talked about the 24/7 issue of cyberbullying. The school yard bully is limited to the school yard, however, the cyber bully can follow his/her victim wherever they go. 

Mrs. Bell is involved extensively in the West Islip school district PTA. Next year she'll be PTA president at the high school Mary Kate and her offender attend. 

"We've brought in bullying programs at all the schools. That is not the solution, schools need to have strong policies. What are the consequences for these kids?" asked Mrs. Bell. 

Suffolk County legislator Tom Cilmi, R, Bay Shore, was part of the panel. He presently has a piece of legislation pending that will prohibit cyberbullying in Suffolk County. "One vehicle is tougher penalties. The penal code must be addressed. It shows consequences and you also send a message to would-be perpetrators. Kids respond to consequences," said Cilmi.

Mr. Bell is a retired member of the New York Police Department. He presently works for the school district as a security guard. "The police handling was a problem but the first problem was with the school. They didn't look at the facts of the case," said Mr. Bell.

There were no representatives present from the West Islip School District. However, there were several school superintendents from Nassau and Suffolk on the panel. 

Post-Columbine, most Long Island school districts have a zero tolerance policy regarding bullying and have amended their discipline codes according. However, most cyberbullying takes place outside of their jurisdiction – off school grounds. 

Hannon asked superintendents to scrutinize his proposed bill, which calls for an amendment to penal law that will make the crime of hazing more serious. It holds schools responsible if bullying or hazing  takes place on school property and it will make bullying and cyberbullying illegal on school property or at school events. 

In addition, it calls for anti-bullying programs (character education) in schools. There is also a provision that would require any school employee that has knowledge of bullying or cyberbullying to inform the principal or other school official. Lastly it calls for a state hotline so individuals can report bullying, cyberbullying and hazing. 

Garden City Middle School's anti-bullying program is based on the Olweus Bullying Prevention program. Implemented two years ago, the program follows the B.R.A.V.E. program, which was the school's original initiative.

Kim Greenwald, the school's anti-bullying coordinator, says the main target of the school's program is the bystander, whom, she said, represents the majority and offers the greatest opportunity for change. She adds that the school has adopted a community-based approach, to infiltrate inside and outside of the classroom to facilitate bully reduction and focus on prevention.

The Bells are trying to move forward but are still traumatized by their recent ordeal. "The bully wrote 'you got what you deserved' (after the attack)," said Mrs. Bell. Despite that, both parents admit to feeling sympathy for their daughter's attacker because the young lady has problems at home.  

"I love what you did here. There are hundreds and thousands of other kids (being cyber bullied). Our daughter's loved, she's better off, she's going to be okay," said Mr. Bell.