DENTON (WBAP/KLIF News ) – Some University of North Texas students are demanding action after someone posted hundreds of photos of women working out at an on-campus gym without their knowledge on an online forum.
This student, who wishes to remain anonymous and will be referred to as Mary, said she felt violated after recently learning she was on the site.
She said filed a report with the UNT Police Department who allegedly told her that because the photos were taken in the general use area, there may not be a criminal case.
“They said unfortunately we can’t do anything because technically this is a public space. It would be different if it was the bathroom or locker room,” said Mary. “I find it hard to believe that there’s not some other kind of rule specifically within university’s policies that you’re not allowed to take pictures of other students and let alone post them on a very awful explicit website like that.”
After receiving advice from a friend, Mary decided to try and gather some evidence to help find out who the culprit behind the photos is.
She has an online personal trainer and all of her workouts for the past year have been logged.
“The date he posted my pictures was April 11, 2024. So, I went an referenced back to that date and of course, he didn’t take the pictures and post them the same day. So I looked a week previous and based on the pictures he had taken…I knew exactly what exercises I was doing. He also had pictures of the dumbbell I was using. So I knew exactly what date to look for because I logged the exact weight,” said Mary.
She was able to determine her photos were taken on Friday, April 5 and gave the information to UNT Police on Sunday, September 8 with a request that they check gym surveillance footage.
Mary said she also filled out a Title IX sexual misconduct form with the university.
WBAP News reached out to UNT police and UNT Relations department.
The university confirmed its aware of the police reports filed regarding the photos issued this statement.
“We are aware of the Reddit post about an individual taking photos at our “Gym/Athletic area.” The UNT Police Department is investigating. To date, we have identified some individuals in the photos and have taken several reports.
Photography and video in the UNT recreation center locker rooms, restrooms and aquatic facilities are strictly prohibited.
We urge anyone with any information about this or any other suspicious activity to please contact the police. In the event of an emergency, call 911. Otherwise, UNT Police can be reached at 940-565-3000.”
Mary said she would like to see an expansion of the rules regarding where photos and videos are allowed to be taken without a person’s consent.
“I want them to put in some kind of ban at the gym to maybe not video or photograph while in the general area because there’s plenty of other gyms that have that policy,” she said.
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