Case students, faculty stand firm against cyber bullying

CLEVELAND - In honor of National Coming Out Day, Case Western University students and faculty came together in support of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgendered community.

"I just want people to start learning from others, have conversations, talk about it," said Lillian Zamecnik, a student and the president of the resident halls association.

The LGBT community and supporters also remembered Tyler Clementi. Clementi, 18, committed suicide after his roommate Dahrun Ravi, and another Rutgers student, Molly Wei, allegedly used a webcam to secretly broadcast Clementi while he was kissing another man in his dorm room.

"I was disappointed and angry and hurt. My heart goes out to his family," said Case student Mitchell Delaney.

Clementi's death has highlighted the impact of cyber bullying and the expanding role of social media on campus.

"It's a good way to keep in touch, but it's also a way people can out a little bit more about you," said Brett Bauer, a Case University law student.

But in the wrong hands, the Web can cause some students to feel rejected and alone. LGBT members at the rally said six other pre-teens and teens across the country took their lives because they were bullied about their sexuality.

"They need to stop bullying. It's just not OK. It's not OK in high school. It's not OK in college," said Zamecnik.