Let me tell you this: memes can ruin your life. Your life can be destroyed by memes. Know this.
They have certainly ruined the lives of ten incoming freshman at Harvard University, who had their acceptances withdrawn over “offensive” memes posted in a private group chat.
Basically, about 100 members of Harvard College’s incoming freshman class contacted each other through a Facebook page set up to connect new Harvard students. They clearly decided that said Facebook page wasn’t cool enough, so they moved to a private Facebook group which the Washington Post claims was named “Harvard memes for horny bourgeois teens”.
Yes, the once esteemed publication was forced to debase itself and publish the words “horny bourgeois teens”. Sad!
But, as is the fate of all group chats, they started posting extremely hateful memes. Lets not pretend that isn’t the natural trajectory of all group chats. Even the most innocent, wholesome group chat can quickly become polluted by even one evil meme. According to the Post:
Some of the group’s members decided to form an offshoot group in which students could share obscene, “R-rated” memes, a student told the Crimson. The founders of the messaging group demanded that students post provocative memes in the main group chat to gain admittance to the smaller group.
According to student newspaper The Harvard Crimson, many of the memes related to “mocking sexual assault, the Holocaust and the deaths of children.”
In mid-April, university administrators caught on to what was going down here. They were tipped off to the increasingly extreme content in this spinoff group, and issued letters to at least 10 students involved informing them that their acceptances had been revoked.
Representatives from the admissions office emailed students they believed were involved, demanding they turn over every picture posted in the group. The email was obtained by the Crimson:
The Admissions Committee was disappointed to learn that several students in a private group chat for the Class of 2021 were sending messages that contained offensive messages and graphics. As we understand you were among the members contributing such material to this chat, we are asking that you submit a statement by tomorrow at noon to explain your contributions and actions for discussion with the Admissions Committee.
Welp. Imagine explaining that one to mum and dad.
Source: The Washington Post.
Photo: Getty Images.
