An SIUC student could face punishment for a derogatory e-mail he sent to a feminist Web site.
Alex Kochno, a senior from Downers Grove studying marketing, sent a misogynistic message from his SIUC e-mail account to a feminist Web site, which was subsequently published on the site. The incident prompted the university to suspend the student's e-mail account and issue a public announcement signed by interim Chancellor Sam Goldman.
Kochno wrote to the Web site, at http://feministing.com, referencing an article on another site that indicated men performed better than women on IQ tests.
"I think you would gain a lot more knowledge from that Web site and you might learn about the truth that way you would not be so stupid and ignorant you stupid (expletive)," the message said, using a derogatory, four-letter term for a female body part.
Kochno, who was the public relations officer for the SIU College Republicans when the message was sent, apologized for the e-mail, saying it was a mistake.
"It was a stupid thing to do," Kochno said. "It was in poor taste."
After the university was made aware of the incident, Goldman placed a one-half page advertisement in the DAILY EGYPTIAN that said the university does not condone such behavior and is looking into the matter.
Goldman said he did not know specifics about the investigation and referred questions to the College of Business.
Sun Min, chief marketing officer for the College of Business, said the college had passed the case on to Student Judicial Affairs.
Min said Dennis Cradit, dean of the College of Business, sent an e-mail Tuesday to the executive editor of Feministing, saying the university was offended by the comments made by Kochno and the student's e-mail privileges had been suspended. Cradit also said in the e-mail the incident had also been reported to the Department of Public Safety.
Nathan Gentry, president of the SIU College Republicans, said Kochno was acting as an independent individual when he sent the e-mail and the organization had no prior knowledge of his personal views. The College Republicans don't harbor these negative views of women, Gentry said.
"It's offensive to me because I don't view women this way," Gentry said. "(The College Republicans are) just as appalled and disappointed in his actions as anybody else is."
Gentry, a junior from Belleville studying public administration and history, said Kochno submitted a letter of resignation from his post as public relations officer at the groups urging. The resignation was finalized at a meeting Wednesday.
Kochno said his actions were morally wrong and the comments made were not reflective of his ideology of females.
"What led to the posting was just me being stupid," Kochno said. "It's not a representative of how I am."
Madeleine Leroux can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or mleroux@siu.edu.
