Vivian Englund – Copy Editor
Students from around the world took out their mattresses last Wednesday to help student at Columbia University, Emma Sulkowicz raise awareness for sexual and domestic violence.
The protest officially named, “Carry the Weight Together,” was comprised of college students and activists alike, all to shed light on an issue that is often brushed under the rug by many universities.
The event was inspired by Sulkowicz’s collaborative art senior thesis project, “Carry the Weight.” Sulkowicz vows to carry her mattress around with her at all times until the person whom allegedly raped her is either expelled or leaves the university. (Which yes, he still is in attendance at Columbia).
This was preceding the fact that Columbia’s campus police dismissed Sulkowicz’s case and found the alleged rapist not guilty. Sulkowicz’s case, however, is not the only accusation that the alleged rapist is facing. There are several other accounts all pinned to the same person.
emma sulkowizc’s ‘carry that weight’ is on the cover of NY magazine – http://t.co/g2Emmo1elI pic.twitter.com/UNfpMAYsD3
— jess west. (@flashbackhumour) September 22, 2014
In September, Columbia students rallied in a similar fashion, bringing out around a dozen mattresses to a courtyard.
At the earlier rally Sulkowicz said, “What kind of human being would ever value the education of a serial rapist over the three women he attacked?”
Implying that the school values her rapist’s education more than her (and the other victims) basic human rights. Last week’s demonstration was worldwide, having participants from more than 130 college campuses. According to the event’s Facebook page, close to 11,000 people were in attendance. Some of the colleges involved were, Connecticut College, University of California-Berkley and Central European University (Hungary). The president of Columbia University Lee Bollinger, and Suzanne B. Goldberg, law professor and advisor released a statement on New Republic late last week.
Colombia students extend solidarity 2 Emma Sulkowicz, help her carry weight of sexual assault. http://t.co/gae7OmUHFM pic.twitter.com/2iq35xvvBY
— WV FREE (@WVFREE) September 12, 2014
“No person who comes to a university or college to learn and live should have to endure gender-based misconduct today, particularly the young women who most frequently sustain these violations and already are saddled with gender-based burdens in their lives and interactions with others that remain deeply embedded in society even as we make great progress on this front,” said Bollinger and Goldberg in regards to a resolution.
Bollinger released a statement saying that Columbia acknowledges their responsibility to address and prevent instances of sexual assault amongst other gender-biased misconduct.
Though the university is making changes, Bollinger said, “Still more work remains to be done.”
This was following a report that said that not one alleged person being accused of sexual assault was punished at all. This is even though 10 undergraduate students were accused of misconduct.
In the midst of the protests and rallies, some students began carrying pillows instead of mattresses.
Sulkowicz urges her classmates not to carry pillows considering that sexual assault is not something that victims carry lightly. In fact, the often life-long burden they carry is heavier than even a mattress.
Photo Credit: Bernard Oh
