Ohio court officials discuss the effects of bullying at Cal U event
Zach Frailey
Jim DeLucia, director of clinical services at the Mahoning County, Ohio, juvenile court, speaks during the “Bullying Has No Borders” event Thursday at Cal U. (Photo courtesy of California University of Pennsylvania.)
Zach Frailey
Theresa Dellick, juvenile court judge in Mahoning County, Ohio, speaks during the “Bullying Has No Borders” event Thursday at Cal U. (Photo courtesy of California University of Pennsylvania.)
CALIFORNIA — In 2008, an Ohio teen committed suicide after her nude photo was spread around her high school.
The following year, an 18-year-old Florida man was ordered to spend 20 years on a sex offender registry after disseminating a nude photo of his then-16-year-old ex-girlfriend.
In 2010, a Rutgers student took his life after his roommate used a webcam to live stream him in an intimate act with another man without his knowledge.
These real-life examples were used by a panel of court officials from Mahoning County in northeast Ohio to show students, faculty and community members at California University of Pennsylvania the consequences of bullying.
The impact can be widespread and the consequences serious, they said during a discussion at the “Bullying Has No Borders” event held Thursday in promotion of National Bullying Prevention Month, a nationwide campaign held each October to educate and raise awareness of bullying prevention.
The Mahoning County juvenile court workers educated the audience on the dangers of cyberbulling, sexting and hazing, in addition to other forms of bullying, that can have a lasting impact on both the victim and the perpetrator.
Statistics indicate that bullying has a devastating effect on a person’s mental health. Some of the effects of repeated aggressive, unwanted behavior include embarrassment, lowered self-esteem, shame, fear, confusion, depression and suicide.
“In our pockets, we have the power to harm and destroy individuals. What we can do with these amazing devices is we can mess with people, we can hurt people, we can embarrass people, we can shame people…behind a screen,” said Jim DeLucia, Mahoning County juvenile court director of clinical services, of the use of electronic communication to bully a person — a practice known as cyberbullying.
Bullying is a problem that occurs frequently in schools, said DeLucia, but can continue on into the workplace, households and social groups.
Dr. John Burnett, Cal U Title IX coordinator and special assistant to the president for Equal Employment and Educational Opportunity, said bringing the Bullying Has No Borders event to Cal U is a chance to educate the campus community on the dangers of bullying and the impact it can have on both the bully and the victim.
“We hope they get a general knowledge of what bullying is and how these things can have long-term ramifications,” said Burnett. “Hopefully this will show how we can look out for one another in the community to make sure bullying doesn’t occur, because it has lasting effects on people’s lives.”
Burnett said instances of bullying at Cal U falls under the university’s general harassment policies and that appropriate action is taken immediately when bullying occurs.
The Mahoning County juvenile court system has been recognized by the U.S. Department of Justice, Department of Education and the Obama administration for its progressive and innovative program to help at-risk youth.
Mahoning County started the “Just Say Hello” program in local schools to teach empathy and how to reach out to those who may feel alone. In 2016, Judge Theresa Dellick was a recipient of the Sandy Hook Promise Champion Award, given to leaders across the country who work to build safe, supportive communities by promoting mental wellness and implementing gun violence prevention programs.
Sharon Fisher, probation supervisor and sex offenses specialist at Mahoning County, said sexting — the act of electronically sending sexually explicit photographs or messages — is widespread among teenagers, who are often unaware of the consequences of sending such material.
“It’s all about educating and letting them know the consequences of those behaviors,” said Fisher, noting that not only can sexting be harmful to the victim, but the sender of those images could face criminal charges for their participation.
“Something we need to be mindful of is that when you send it out there, it doesn’t go away,” Fisher said.