Syracuse University Pulls 'Kiss Cam' Following Fan's Concerns of Forced Affection
Are we kissing the era of the college "kiss cam" goddbye?
— -- Syracuse University has decided to indefinitely pull its "kiss cam" after a fan’s published complaint suggested the iconic sporting event spectacle sends the wrong message at a time when colleges are fighting against sexual assault.
A common staple at sports venues, the kiss cam captures unsuspecting couples in the middle of a heart on the Jumbotron while the game crowd cheers for them to share a smooch.
Syracuse fan Steve Port wrote a letter to the editor of syracuse.com, expressing his reservations about what he saw during the Sept. 12 football game between Syracuse University and Wake Forest. He said it constituted unacceptable behavior, and maybe even assault, as men forcibly kissed women who were clearly saying no as the crowds cheered them on.
"Honestly, I wasn't out to kill the kiss cam," Port told the Associated Press on Tuesday. "I was just out to raise an important issue that I saw happening and that's important to me. I've always kind of been a little put off by it anyway, but never witnessed an actual act of -- oh, my God, this woman is saying no and it didn't matter."
Port could not be reached by ABC News for additional comment.
Syracuse University athletics and its kiss cam sponsor, POMCO, did not use the kiss cam at this past Saturday's game against Central Michigan University. They agreed to suspend it pending the assessment, Syracuse's Chief Communications Officer Susan Edson told ABC News today.
"We are taking the time to assess the concerns expressed in the letter to the editor and figure out the best approach going forward," Edson told ABC News.
The decision to nix the kiss cam indefinitely has ignited a debate on social media. Some agreed with Port's views, while others say there's nothing inappropriate.