A student at Central Connecticut State University is in a heap of trouble after faking anti-gay notes she said she found in her room.
Alexandra Pennell, 19, told police that she'd received anti-gay notes under her door and anti-gay messages on a dry erase board. Campus police set up cameras to try and capture the suspect. Instead, they saw Pennell place a note under her own door and then call the police.
Pennell admitted to writing the notes, saying she wanted attention from her roommate.
Pennell did get attention, a campus-full. In March, hundreds of students rallied in her support, thinking that there was a homophobic bully on the loose.
The prank cost Pennell a five year suspension from any college in the Connecticut state university system. She pled not guilty to the charges, including falsely reporting an incident, fabricating evidence and making a false statement.
I'd like to dismiss Pennell's actions as a stupid prank, congratulate the CSUS for quick response on anti-gay harassment and praise the community for standing up for gay students; but Pennell's mischief has consequences that may make it harder for students that actually are being bullied to get the help and attention they need in the future.
Hopefully, Pennell's learned the hard lesson many of us figure out at one time or another: When someone's not into you, they're just not into you--no matter how many pranks you pull.
Alexandra Pennell, 19, told police that she'd received anti-gay notes under her door and anti-gay messages on a dry erase board. Campus police set up cameras to try and capture the suspect. Instead, they saw Pennell place a note under her own door and then call the police.
Pennell admitted to writing the notes, saying she wanted attention from her roommate.
Pennell did get attention, a campus-full. In March, hundreds of students rallied in her support, thinking that there was a homophobic bully on the loose.
The prank cost Pennell a five year suspension from any college in the Connecticut state university system. She pled not guilty to the charges, including falsely reporting an incident, fabricating evidence and making a false statement.
I'd like to dismiss Pennell's actions as a stupid prank, congratulate the CSUS for quick response on anti-gay harassment and praise the community for standing up for gay students; but Pennell's mischief has consequences that may make it harder for students that actually are being bullied to get the help and attention they need in the future.
Hopefully, Pennell's learned the hard lesson many of us figure out at one time or another: When someone's not into you, they're just not into you--no matter how many pranks you pull.
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