 "Photo: Adam Rogers")
Restrooms in Middleton Library and Coates Hall aren't the only bathrooms listed on cruisingforsex.com as "hot spots" for men engaging in anonymous sexual encounters in Baton Rouge.
Other areas in the capital city identified on the site include the men's restrooms at Baton Rouge Beach, Highland Road Park, the A.C. Lewis YMCA and the pavilion at Casino Rouge on River Road.
Also listed are the restrooms at Sharp Road Park, Ochsner Pond, Manchac Park, Cohn Arboretum and a restroom at the bus terminal on Florida Boulevard and North 22nd Street.
Baton Rouge Police Department spokesman Don Kelly said his department conducts sting operations using undercover officers "a couple times a year."
"We have done a number of undercover sting operations, but they're based on citizen complaints, not a Web site," Kelly said. "We go to wherever we receive complaints. Anyone can post something on a Web site."
Kelly said BRPD receives the most complaints about the men's restroom at Baton Rouge Beach and the BREC facility at South Harrells Ferry Park.
Kelly said most of the men involved in the sting operations are arrested and booked into East Baton Rouge Parish Prison.
Kelly said most are charged with obscenity or attempted crimes against nature.
If two consenting adults engage in sexual activity other than intercourse, they are committing a crime against nature. Crimes against nature include all acts of sodomy and oral sex.
Exposing ones genitals in public violates the state obscenity law.
If a student was charged with these crimes by LSUPD, the University would also hold the student accountable, said Eric Norman, associate dean of judicial affairs.
The charges break the Student Code of Conduct for lewd, indecent or obscene conduct, Norman said.
Norman, who has been employed by the University since 2006, said no students have been charged with this kind of conduct since he has worked for the University.
If students were to be charged, they would likely be placed on probation, Norman said.
Norman said the student would likely be required to attend "some sort of educational program" or write a reflective essay.
"Since our procedures are educational and counseling based, we want to be able to help the person," Norman said.
---- Contact Elizabeth Miller at emiller@lsureveille.com
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