Feb. 10, 2000
Some BYU students have created a web site dedicated to getting total strangers together to, well, "make-out."
But school adminstrators and police say the web site brings up several safety issues.
News Specialist Stacey Butler has the story on the NCMO, or Non- Committal Make Out.
It's a web site where you can ask to meet a total stranger for a long kiss, away from prying eyes, and remain totally anonymous. And it was reportedly created by a handful of BYU students whose identities remain concealed.
"TWO HOT GIRLS LOOKING FOR SOME ACTION BY TWO HOT GUYS. EMAIL FOR DETAILS."
When these two BYU students placed their ad on the NCMO web site, they say it was just a joke.
"WE JUST THOUGHT IT WOULD BE FUNNY TO RESPOND."
But after only ten days they recieved dozens of e-mails from those claiming they wanted to NCMO. And they weren't the only ones.
"Joe"/Advertises on NCMO Website: "TWO OF MY ROOMATES, WE STUMBLED ON IT, FILLED OUT THE INFORMATION AND SET UP AN AD AND ACTUALLY HAD A COUPLE OF HITS."
"Bob"/Advertises on NCMO Website: "IT'S JUST KIND OF FUN, I DON'T KNOW IT'S NOT LIKE ANYTHING THAT WE THINK WE'D ACTUALLY DO."
The word is out. NCMO is on line but not all the students at BYU see it as a harmless game.
Heather Jackson/BYU Senior: "IT SORT OF SURPRISED ME THAT BYU STUDENTS WOULD PUT UP SOMETHING LIKE THAT."
Janae Willardson/BYU Freshman: "I KNOW BOYS THINK IT'S FUNNY BUT I THINK IT'S REALLY DISGUSTING."
While school authorities say it doesn't necessarily break the school's rules of conduct known as the honor code, it does compromise it.
Steve Baker/Honor Code Director: "I THINK PEOPLE ARE OPENING THEMSELVES UP TO A VERY INAPPROPRIATE SITUATION WHERE SOMETHING COULD HAPPEN."
Campus police are more concerned that an anonymous meeting over the internet could end in tragedy.
People are advised not to use their campus e-mail address, making themselves easily identifiable.
But dozens are using their BYU addresses, and police say that's where unknowing students make themselves most vulnerable to Internet predators.