Keep homecoming in the bedroom

People manage finances on their phones all the time, but outside a Chase bank at Ohio University, students used their phones for a different purpose.

A couple was photographed and video-recorded performing the act of cunnilingus on a street similar to Kirkwood Avenue.

Rape allegations are at the center of this story. Many are shaming bystanders for not intervening in what the female involved has recently reported as rape.

Whether or not this was a case of rape, the situation is oozing with violation.

Ohio University Police Chief Andrew Powers said the disturbing part of the case is that bystanders videotaped the sex act instead of getting involved.

This shouldn’t be the most disturbing part of an incident where two individuals exposed themselves in an extremely public area.

These two violated many other people who were out celebrating homecoming.

Imagine walking back home with a grilled cheese or slice of pizza in hand and running into a guy eating something much less innocent.

College campuses are home to incidents that are simultaneously sad, stupid and simply outrageous.

Ohio University and IU are no different from this trend.

@OnlyAtIU tweets some of this college craziness to almost 10,000 followers, and those of us with only a fraction of the followers often do the same.

When someone in a class vomits due to alcohol consumption, someone in the room will likely tweet about it.

If someone is spotted in last night’s dress and heels at McDonald’s for breakfast, you can expect a picture on Instagram or at least a Snapchat.

When two people are having sex in the street, it is going to show up on social media.

Still, posting pornographic pictures and videos takes things too far. Social media sites account for this in their User Agreements and Terms of Service documents.

Though they might not hit you in the face like a public sex act, these fine-print documents are important for a safe and appropriate social media experience.

Twitter bans the use of “obscene or pornographic images” and Instagram prohibits “nude, partially nude, ... pornographic or sexually suggestive photos or other content”.

The most wrong that bystanders did was violating these terms.

Yes, these passersby have a responsibility to say something.

No, sexual assault is never OK.

Still, the general public was assaulted by these two individuals’ gross display.

We can only hope that the next time homecoming comes around, the cunnilingus will stay at home.

­— opinion@idsnews.com
Follow the Opinion Desk on Twitter @ids_opinion.