Spring Break
Lewd acts in library not a distraction
Josh Weaver
Issue date: 2/26/07 Section: News
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On Feb. 4th, University Police arrested Frank A. Parker, a customer visiting the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, on an outstanding felony warrant and for being in possession of child pornography, according to the UPD Web site crime blotter.
This was not an isolated incident.
In November 2006, ABC Channel 7 News correspondent Dan Noyes conducted a report on Bay Area libraries, including a portion on the King Library.
The report indicated that there was a problem with male customers visiting the King Library and viewing pornography on the library's computers.
Library director Jane Light and University Library Dean Ruth Kifer said they believe that the report was biased and sensationalized.
"The library does not have a significant problem with pornography and inappropriate behavior," Kifer said. "The vast majority of our library users utilize the computers to access digital information resources in a responsible manner."
Jenelle Dini, a senior studying child development who said she uses the library on occasion, said that some of her friends have noticed men looking at photos of women on the Internet.
"My friend said she was working on a computer station one day and right next to her a man was looking at suggestive pictures of women and she said she felt pretty disturbed," Dini said.
"Viewing pornography is not illegal," Light said. "People have to realize that this is a public place. If you see something obnoxious, our staff is trained to call security immediately if there is a problem."
On Feb. 1, a male subject was arrested for performing a lewd act in public.
"He got a little excited while he was viewing pornography," said University Police Sgt. John Laws.
"It is sad to say that a small amount of men misbehave, but they are always arrested," Light said.
Subjects who are cited and removed from the premises are given a two-week suspension from the library, Laws said.
"They are given a code '626' and their picture is shown to all security personal and if they return they are removed again," he said.
This was not an isolated incident.
In November 2006, ABC Channel 7 News correspondent Dan Noyes conducted a report on Bay Area libraries, including a portion on the King Library.
The report indicated that there was a problem with male customers visiting the King Library and viewing pornography on the library's computers.
Library director Jane Light and University Library Dean Ruth Kifer said they believe that the report was biased and sensationalized.
"The library does not have a significant problem with pornography and inappropriate behavior," Kifer said. "The vast majority of our library users utilize the computers to access digital information resources in a responsible manner."
Jenelle Dini, a senior studying child development who said she uses the library on occasion, said that some of her friends have noticed men looking at photos of women on the Internet.
"My friend said she was working on a computer station one day and right next to her a man was looking at suggestive pictures of women and she said she felt pretty disturbed," Dini said.
"Viewing pornography is not illegal," Light said. "People have to realize that this is a public place. If you see something obnoxious, our staff is trained to call security immediately if there is a problem."
On Feb. 1, a male subject was arrested for performing a lewd act in public.
"He got a little excited while he was viewing pornography," said University Police Sgt. John Laws.
"It is sad to say that a small amount of men misbehave, but they are always arrested," Light said.
Subjects who are cited and removed from the premises are given a two-week suspension from the library, Laws said.
"They are given a code '626' and their picture is shown to all security personal and if they return they are removed again," he said.
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