“Chris Didn’t Cheat” Site Reflects Web 2.0 Media Speed

chrisdidntcheat-shirt.jpgAs you can see by the comment landed in my post yesterday, a San Diego State University student has already put up a “Chris Didn’t Cheat” website to support 18-year old engineering student Chris Avenir in his Facebook appeal hearing taking place today in Toronto at Ryerson University.

I don’t know who commenter ‘Davin’ is, and perhaps Chris doesn’t either, but let’s follow the internet trail of articles, for a quick snapshot of youths’ lightening fast ability to mobilize in warp-speed web time.

A few notes from a media literacy/deconstruction analysis:

Site creator, Davin is clearly a student/unknown entity (not a family member) because you can see here that Yahoo’s “answers” forum was used to find out the exact hearing time and place one day ago. This peer to peer rallying for a purpose is common, effective, and spreads ‘virally’ like wildfire in a nanosecond. Just this morning, an ipetitions.com element was added to the site at 8:26am to support Chris, and in the time it’s taken for me to write this article this morning, 800+ people have logged on to visit the site and 200+ have used the voting poll to voice their perception of fairness factor in play. Powerful media…

I’m sure the digerati at today’s final day of SXSW interactive are ‘Twittering’ about the hearing this afternoon, just as the blogosphere has been all week. (insightful post on Jay Moonah’s Media Driving adds relevance here) Now…consider this…

facebook-group-ryerson.jpg

At the quick click of a mouse:

A Facebook group was created by Ryerson student Leo Chan to support Chris (see left, now at almost 1000 members)…

Enthusiastic SDSU student ‘Davin’ secured and posted the domain name “Chris Didn’t Cheat”… (btw, he’s male, 21, just found him in a click via Google but won’t site link for his privacy/security sans permission)

And this simple, appealing site was produced on blogger for free, with an RSS feed for updated stories to track the progress, a Café Press merchandise store for fundraising, and a ‘share this and spread the word’ call to action probably in about 24 hours. (yep, you can buy tees, hats, buttons & gear with money being donated to Chris for either “legal expenses or a round of beers” post-ruling debacle)

And yet?

We still don’t have any actual facts or a data transcript to voice a fully formed intelligent opinion…

We have anecdotal evidence from students and media that’s strong enough to sway me in favor of his plight until we hear otherwise, but still no cold hard quantifiable data pertaining to the gravity of the actual accusation.

You see where I’m going here?

The internet has the ability to mobilize in full force with little regard to accuracy in ‘knee jerk reaction’ style.

Now, here’s where it gets even more obvious that media literacy is key to the emotional argument and persuasive appeal (can you tell I’m trained in marketing?)

rye-hates-fb.jpg“Don’t let Chris take the fall on his own,” is a rallying cry that emotes better than any advertising tagline, wrenching the heart like a plea for innocent seal pups bashed and bloodied on the ice.

I feel for this teen. I really, really do. The story is no longer his. The media now owns it. The spin and churn on all sides will tumble him around and there’s not a dang thing he can do about it…

There’s an Inevitability of Communication bias as Jay Moonah beautifully alludes to in this cautionary blurb on the need for media literacy…so now it’s all about who has the loudest megaphone and where the facts will reveal themselves.

expelled-next.jpgChris Avenir himself has asked that media be barred from attending the hearing today, so this teen is no doubt already feeling the pressure of the spotlight and the sweat on the brow…

…Not just from reporters but from zealous students rallying around him as an iconic representation in web celeb media style. (Check out this “Who will be expelled next?” cover of the campus indie student newspaper with the creative wonders of PhotoShop at work!)

Regardless of Chris’ own personal trauma, academic standing, original intent of the group, or even the factual conduct or hearing outcome, it’s quite evident it’s no longer just about Chris and his study group anymore.

Distortions, debate points and misinformation will fling from all sides, as Chris becomes objectified and personified as the poster child for a cause.

Chris Avenir will now be “Chris, the Ryerson/Facebook study group guy” much like Amy Jussel/Shaping Youth became the New York Times’ “Target Tells a Blogger to Go Away” persona.

Sure, my original article was about the normalization of objectification in media environs, and the APA study on ambient advertising/early sexualization & kids’ self-worth.

It was never about one Target ad, but that doesn’t matter, because it’s not in my editorial control anymore…media enables rapid shift of the conversation altogether.

I became merely the object and the conduit to springboard the dialog in a new direction…

This is why it’s paramount that we ALL have significant media literacy chops to manage media and discern what’s real, kids and adults alike.

Chris’ case further proves this point…

When a much larger conversation has been uncorked, it’s no longer about your point of view, your objective, or even the truth.

It’s about perception, precedent and media’s ability to influence same.

Welcome to the Age of Conversation, Chris. I think I’ll go buy a tee-shirt for ya, as I somehow feel very bonded in spirit. Might even join the students’ Facebook group as details come forward.

Good luck today all…May the truth prevail.


Related Resources

Ryerson University’s Academic Code of Conduct

Toronto Star: Student Faces Facebook Consequences

Metro News: A Web of Deceit?

Ryerson University Prof Defends Facebook Penalty

Podcast Camp, Toronto

Support Chris Avenir Facebook Group

EyeOpener: School Moves to Police Students Online

Chris Didn’t Cheat.com

Visual Credits: Tee: ChrisDidntCheat.com, Facebook group screenshot via Canada.com article, Ryerson University hates Facebook banner: Media Driving blog with Jay Moonah, EyeOpener visual: Campus Newspaper via Facebook group

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Comments

  1. Amy, thanks for the links. Chris’ hearing is happening today at Ryerson. Hopefully they will show some mercy for this poor guy and let him get back to his studies and his life.

    Cheers,
    – J.

  2. Yep, it’ll be interesting. Just had a ping from a talk show producer of Calgary Today – AM 770 CHQR about this, but I’m unavail this eve; they’ve got someone in the media/tech arena though. I think she said it was 5:45 PM MST (7:45 PM EST) on their show…stay tuned!

    Wondering what the facts/implications/policy will be post-hearing today as it all sorts itself out…poor kid.

  3. wow: check out this post-hearing media circus shot of Chris Avenir on Jordan Roberts’ Flickr photo stream…poor kid. sheesh.

    Says a decision will surface in 5 days…stay tuned…
    http://www.flickr.com/photos/jordanroberts/2327825298/

  4. More from the Star in Canada…looks like even if he loses the hearing (which he won’t know for a week) he can appeal in 10 days to the university senate.

    What a hassle. eesh.
    http://www.thestar.com/News/GTA/article/339551

    Still no facts out…anyone?

  5. Just found a fabulous link depicting all sides of this dialog in a reasoned, pragmatic use of critical thinking skills incorporating students/academics w/varying points of view.

    Excellent work: check this out!
    http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2008/03/when-is-an-onli.html?cid=107459164#comment-107459164

  6. Ryerson update: Just saw this on digital journal:
    http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080319.FACEBOOK19/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/

    Not expelled, but received a zero. Fair? Unfair? Not much press around here to find out the details. Anyone else have any?

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