Steam room citation leads to changes in HPER policy
Investigations surrounding reports of lewdness at the men’s HPER steam room uncovered postings on
Craigslist.com soliciting this campus facility as a place to participate in sexual activity, said Steven Mecham, USU police chief.
Around 6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24, students walked in on two men allegedly engaged in “inappropriate sexual behavior,” Mecham said. Tom Peterson, USU professor, was issued a citation for lewd behavior. The identity of the other man is still unknown, Mecham said.
Whether the posts on Craigslist were directly involved in this case is still unclear, Mecham said, and no arrests for sexual activity in the steam room have been made in the past.
John DeVilbiss, executive director of USU public relations and marketing, said the university received complaints in the fall that the steam room was being used as a meeting place. He said in order to counteract these complaints, HPER faculty began locking the rear entrance doors leaving the only access to the facility through the front desk.
Since the February case, new signs have been added to the HPER facilities, asking patrons to report any illegal behavior to the front desk, DeVilbiss said. These signs have been added in both the male and female locker rooms. Additionally, he said the night manager will keep a tighter watch on the facilities and its hours may be shortened.
–rac.ch@aggiemail.usu.edu