UW Police: Facebook post was a hoax

University of Wyoming student Meg Lanker-Simons speaks Monday with her husband Andrew at her side during a demonstration organized to protest sexual violence and rhetoric near the student union. PETER BAUMAN/Boomerang staff

The University of Wyoming Police Department issued a citation Monday afternoon in Albany County Circuit Court for Meg Lanker-Simons, a woman allegedly threatened last week in a social media post.

Authorities allege the post was a hoax.

Lanker-Simons was cited for interference, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail and $1,000 fine.

“Subject admitted to making a controversial post on UW Crushes webpage and then lied about not doing it,” according to the citation.

Lanker-Simons is scheduled to appear at 9 a.m. May 13 in Circuit Court.

When reached Tuesday afternoon, Lanker-Simons said she had no comment on the citation or the allegation she made the controversial post.

She referred questions to her attorney, Charles Pelkey, of the Laramie firm Neubauer, Pelkey and Goldfinger LLP.

Pelkey said he is familiarizing himself with the case.

“I’m not really willing to comment on speculation at this point,” he said. “Ms. Lanker is entering a not guilty plea and we will not really comment beyond that.”

The post was made April 24 to the UW Crushes page on Facebook. 

It described Lanker-Simons as “that chick that runs her liberal mouth all the time and doesn’t care who knows it.”

The post also referenced a graphic, sexual act against the woman.

“One night with me and shes gonna be a good Republican (expletive),” the post read.

The post against Lanker-Simons created a stir on social media and at the university. School officials issued several statements denouncing the message, and campus police opened an investigation.

UW released a statement Tuesday afternoon about the citation.

“This episode has sparked an important discussion reaffirming that the UW community has no tolerance for sexual violence or violence of any type,” UW spokesman Chad Baldwin said. “The fact that the Facebook post apparently was a fabrication does not change the necessity for continued vigilance in reassuring that we have a campus where everyone feels safe.

“It’s important that this event does not undermine the progress that has been made in this area.”

According to the UW statement, Lanker-Simons was cited because she made false statements to UW Police.

The citation followed a police interview and a search of her computer equipment pursuant to a warrant, UW reported.

UW Police “obtained substantial evidence verifying that the offending Facebook post came from Lanker-Simons’ computer, while the computer was in her possession,” according to the statement.

Advocates came to Lanker-Simons’ defense Tuesday.

Pamela Kandt, co-convener of the Episcopal Women’s Caucus and a Casper activist, lobbied university officials last week for a “swift response to this outrage” after the social media post went public.

“I will tell you, I believe Meg is innocent of this outrage,” said Kandt, adding that the citation is a “classic case of blaming the victim.”

Kandt said she spoke with Lanker-Simons following the citation’s issuance.

UW Police, Kandt said, “have bullied her and they have pulled a bluff.”

“This is the worst episode of ‘Law & Order’ you can imagine,” Kandt said.

She added, “I mean, my God, who would do this to herself?”

Sarah Zacharias, Wyoming state director for UniteWomen.org, said she and Lanker-Simons are friends.

Zacharias spoke Monday during a campus demonstration against UW Crushes. 

During the speech, she described Lanker-Simons as “someone who has put herself on the line publicly for a number of years to fight worthy causes.”

Zacharias said she was with Lanker-Simons when she found the post on UW Crushes.

“If the police are going to give her handcuffs for this, they need to give her an Oscar as well for her acting skills because I saw a woman devastated,” she said.

Zacharias said she’d stake her own reputation on Lanker-Simons being innocent of creating the controversial post.

“I am willing to vouch my own personal character that I don’t believe she made this comment,” she said.

And, “unlike the person who’s attacking Meg, I sign my name to it,” she added.

Zacharias said she believes university leaders and police are trying to “pin” the post on Lanker-Simons because “Meg is the one who makes them look bad when they’re behaving badly.”

Lanker-Simons was the plaintiff in a successful 2010 lawsuit against UW. 

The school attempted to prevent Bill Ayers, co-founder of the radical 1960s group, the Weather Underground, from speaking on campus.

A federal judge ruled the university could not deny Ayers from appearing.

The UW Crushes page was taken down last week in the aftermath of the post controversy. However, the page’s absence was short-lived.

UW Crushes 2.0 was launched Monday on Facebook. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, it had more than 200 followers.

“UW (University of Wyoming) Crushes is back with new administration,” according to the page. “This time, the rules are simple.”

The page outlines those rules:

“1. Don’t be an idiot.”

“2. Don’t be rude. (Sexual comments aren’t rude necessarily, but threats will be reported without being posted and without exception, so don’t mess around. Trolling counts.)”

 

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