The recent posting on the internet of photographs featuring Frederick County cheerleaders has encouraged Middletown High School’s cheerleaders to be more aware of who is taking their picture and for what purpose.

With all of the social networks, online accounts, and broadcast websites out there today, the possibilities of the internet are seemingly endless. Events and people can easily be photographed, and then those images can be uploaded and posted online in a matter of minutes.

For all of its positive attributes, however, the internet also has its share of potential dangers and threats. Those photographed are often unsure of exactly where their picture will be posted, and the context of the posting.  The results can end in confusion and disagreement over who owns the rights to such photos and what they can do with them.

Craig Shipp is one person who found himself in the center of such a controversy. Shipp is the owner several websites, including frederick.com and areaguides.com. Many local residents know Shipp as “the guy who rides his Segway around to take pictures.”

Shipp attends local events, or simply rides around Baker Park in Frederick, on his signature Segway, with a sign that reads “PRESS” boldly printed on it. As he rides, Shipp takes pictures of the events he attends and the people he sees.

Recently, Shipp along with his websites, have been under much scrutiny for what some view as suggestive and inappropriate pictures of Frederick County cheerleaders.  The photos are linked to his websites.

Legally, this is acceptable for any photographer who shoots subjects who are in a public setting. However, what the photographer does with those photos can depend upon the photographer’s ethics as a member of the press.

“While Shipp might have a legal right to take those photos and post them on the internet, a reporter with a degree in journalism would probably give more consideration to ethics and the red flags it might raise with the parents of those cheerleaders,” said Noah  Kady Middletown High school  journalism teacher.

Marita Loose, Frederick County Public Schools spokeswoman, said the “chief concern was that the parents (of the cheerleaders) had issues with the posting of the photographs.”

Shipp posted links through his frederick.com website to his Flickr account and to uscute.com, where the photos were posted.

While many parents thought the photos themselves were not in poor taste, they considered the photos’ tags, such as “beautiful,” “pretty,” and “cute,” questionable.

“It really is creepy and weird, and I’m sure stories like that are a big part of the reason why Mrs. (Melissa) Bolt sets standards for us so high,” said Julie Rockwell, MHS junior and member of the school’s cheerleading squad. “She wants us to keep a clean image so that things like that won’t happen to us.”

After FCPS officials were made aware of the posting of the photographs, they notified Frederick County high school principals, who then alerted Frederick County cheerleading coaches and advisors. 

Although no pictures of MHS cheerleaders were posted online, Bolt, the MHS cheerleading coach, said that she talked to her assistant coach and cheerleaders. Bolt said that she “made (them) aware of the potential threat.” 　

“I am disheartened to think that girls who are making good choices and doing something positive like participating in high school athletics were taken advantage of and used on such a disgraceful site,” Bolt said.

Parents of the cheerleaders who were photographed said that they did not know where the photographs were going to be posted.

“In the age of the internet, it is impossible to guess or control where those images might ultimately appear,” said Loose.

Shipp has more than 31,000 pictures posted online, all varying in subject. He said that those he photographs are well aware that the pictures he takes will be posted online.

“If you review the photos I’ve published, I think you will see all photos are G-rated,” said Shipp.

FCPS athletic events are open to the public, which allows anyone who attends these events to take pictures or videotape both the athletes and fans.

“We cannot control or limit that, unless it is disruptive in some way,” said Loose.

At the beginning of the school year, each student athlete and their parents are required to sign a consent form, which states whether news sources will be allowed to photograph and publish images of the student athlete.

 MHS athletic director Tim Ambrose said that Shipp will be allowed to attend future MHS sporting events.

However, if he is caught singling out cheerleaders in his pictures, he will be asked to stop photographing the event. Ambrose also said if it occurs a second time, he will be asked to leave, and if the problem persists, the Sheriff’s department will be notified.

This procedure would be carried out not only for Shipp but for anyone photographing an athletic event whose intentions may be questionable

Since Shipp’s posts were not illegal, FCPS is taking no other action or conducting any further investigations.

MHS cheerleaders and coaches however, will be monitoring the websites and will be continuously watchful of who is attending and photographing their practices and events.

This “shows the potential dangers and disadvantages to the internet and the amount of freedom people have in their ability to post content of these sites,” Bolt said.

Middletown High School’s varsity basketball cheerleading team is looking forward to an energetic and crowd pleasing season this year.

As practices begin, the girls are working hard to memorize over fifty chants and work on new stunts.

Veteran cheerleaders are eager to help out newcomers with the demands of cheerleading.

“I’m willing to help the new girls learn skills that I had to once learn myself,” said MHS sophomore Kristen Kobylarz.

Compared to last season, the team is going to work on incorporating more of a crowd response at games.

Coach Melissa Bolt said that the most important focus of this season is getting the crowd more involved.

Bolt also said that she is excited for some of the members of the UCA (United Cheerleading Association) staff to come in and teach the team new stunting skills.

Bolt said that the squad learned a lot from the clinic last year and she is hoping that the team will learn even more this year.

Captains have not yet been chosen, but will be selected after the first or second game.

Being inside and much closer to the fans, the girls need to be on point when cheering.

“The team needs to be on their A-game and know what they’re doing,” said MHS senior Mercede Gastley.

One thing the girls and coach Bolt agree on is that there is more team unity than there has ever been.

“Even though there are new girls on the team, they fit in well and there is less confrontation than ever,” said MHS junior Julie Rockwell.