Rutgers president says university responded appropriately to webcam spying complaint

Rutgers president defends response in suicide case

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. — The president of Rutgers University says the university responded appropriately to a complaint by a student whose gay sexual encounter was broadcast online that his roommate was spying on him with a webcam.

Richard McCormick told The Star-Ledger of Newark on Thursday that he personally reviewed Tyler Clementi’s student records after the 18-year-old freshman committed suicide.

McCormick says, “I believe we did all we could and we did the right thing.”

He declined to be more specific, citing student privacy laws.

The Star-Ledger earlier reported that prosecutors had subpoenaed Rutgers for e-mails concerning its handling of Clementi’s complaint.

Clementi’s roommate and another freshman have been charged with invasion of privacy. Authorities are considering bias crime charges.

Information from: The Star-Ledger, www.nj.com/starledger