A Student Association executive vice president candidate filed a report with University Police this week, claiming he received harassing e-mails that threaten to “destroy” his life if he does not drop out of the race.
Derek Grosso, who faces Caity Leu in a runoff this week, said he received three e-mails and one handwritten note this month. Each letter accused Grosso of raping a woman and each is signed “The Reaper.”
“You wanted a recount, well you can count on one thing,” the first e-mail said. “If you don’t pull out of this election and disappear, I will destroy your life.”
Grosso denies the charge in the e-mail that he raped a woman last semester.
“I know I’ve done nothing like that,” Grosso said. “I would never do anything like that.”
Other messages told Grosso to “watch your (expletive) back” and to “drop off the face of the Earth.”
“It’s talking about someone wanting to destroy my life, wanting me to pull out of the elections,” Grosso said.
He said he became concerned when he found a note in his mailbox in the SA office when he returned from spring break.
“When someone’s e-mailing, it’s at a distance,” he said. “But if it’s in my SA mailbox, what’s next, going to my door?”
The e-mails were sent from the GWIS mail system from a fake e-mail address, “[email protected].”
Grosso said he reported the incident to numerous administrative offices, including Student Judicial Services, the Computer Information Resource Center, and to the Joint Elections Committee, which regulates student elections.
UPD Director Dolores Stafford said her department will conduct an investigation into the e-mails. Mike Walker, senior assistant dean of students, said if a student feels their safety is in jeopardy, an assault charge can be filed.
“An assault charge includes fear of imminent danger or injury,” Walker said. “That’s likely to be extended to an e-mail.”
Walker said Student Judicial Services will wait for the results of the UPD investigation before deciding on charges. He said the rape allegations do not correspond with any investigation by his department. Walker said the period between the filing of charges and a sanction usually lasts two weeks.
Grosso said he is unsure who sent the e-mail. UPD and CIRC will look at the path the e-mails took to try and find its origin. Walker said a student is responsible for anything sent from his or her e-mail account, even if he or she is not the author.
Grosso said he takes the threats seriously.
“It’s an immature prank that has gone too far and that has become violent,” he said.
Grosso said he believes his candidacy for EVP is what is driving the person to send the letters, although he doesn’t know if the e-mails are linked to any opposing campaign.
“It’s sad to see that someone will threaten candidates,” he said. “What does it say for the future of SA elections?”
Grosso said he finds it suspicious that the person did not begin e-mailing him until election season and that the person has said he will back off if Grosso drops out.
“Call my bluff, please call my bluff,” one message said.
Grosso said the incident has left him worried about his safety.
“I’m upset, I’m disturbed and I’m confused why someone would try to target me.”
-Francesca Di Meglio contributed to this report.
