Cape Town - “UCT exposed! The side of UCT they don’t want you to see.”
That was how a new blog, which launched on Wednesday and soon afterwards was trending on Twitter, described itself.
The blog “exposed” a student who was failing exams, one who appeared to have made racist comments on Facebook, another who wore an elaborate hairstyle and make-up, and four “stud-muffins” deemed to be the best-looking men on campus.
In each post the students were identified by name and several photographs.
“Who wants to read silly confessions about getting friendzoned when you can get real hardcore and saucy scandal?” read the “about” section on the Facebook page set up on Tuesday.
This was in response to a Facebook page created earlier this year which allowed students to post messages about their heavy drinking, drug abuse or sexual exploits.
A slew of comments complaining about the new website were posted on the Facebook page.
“Come on now, isn’t this a little too personal,” read one comment.
Another said: “Human indecency! the f**k is this man. you need to draw the line between a f**king joke and a an insult. the f**k is wrong with you (sic).”
The student who had been fingered for posting racist comments denied doing so.
“Maybe you should find out facts first. These people are about to destroy my life,” he wrote.
A number of comments suggested the creator of the blog should be sued for defamation or crimen injuria.
But the creator of the blog was unrepentant, responding, “Here at UCT Exposed we say: if you don’t like it, don’t read it! #dontletthedoorhityouonthewayout”.
On Twitter, a number of people appeared in favour of the blog.
“LOL. This has gotta be the juiciest student gossip blog ever,” said one.
Another added: “My favourite line from this UCT Exposed blog is when she refers to that candy floss girl as Marylin Mon-hellno.”
Others saw the blog as an invasion of students’ privacy.
“There’s no need to be putting people’s business out like that,” read one tweet.
Another said: “I urge everyone that thinks this UCT Exposed blog has gone too far to report it to Google.”
Lorne Hallendorff, president of the Students’ Representative Council, said the council had asked university management to ensure the blog was shut down. “We are very concerned that it is a potential lawsuit waiting to happen.” - Cape Times
* At the time of this story going to press, the blog was no longer available online.