Columbia student Emma Sulkowicz vows to carry mattress around university

[umair127]

I think college rape is a very serious issue that tends to get downplayed by universities so that their reputations don't suffer, and thus victims are often forced to suffer in silence and live with the injustice. I find her project to be a very creative and apt metaphor for what these victims must be going through.

I predict she will stop it soon on her own.She's focusing on the justice (where she disagreed with the verdict on the rape charge), not the actual long lasting trauma that rape victims usually endure with or without the alleged rapists being punished. In other word, or in her words, as soon as the alleged rapist is expelled or her justice is served, all those psychological burdens will just all of a sudden disappear.

This contention leads me to believe that you didn't read anything about the issue before posting it. The metaphor of the mattress itself has nothing to do with "Justice". it has to do with exactly what you are accusing her of not focusing on: the emotional trauma and burdens that accompany being raped.

i dont think you understood what i said before posting.
it's not exactly rocket science to understand that the mattress was a symbol of her trauma. but the way she presented it, it's all about her blackmailing the school for justice. if she said that "this is the burden i have to carry every waking minute after being rape, period" and let the public opinion take its course, then she would have my support. however, adding the demand of "Columbia, expel him, or i will air this dirty laundry everywhere to shame you", she sounds like a little kid throwing a tantrum in the supermarket.

[zolace]

"Hi, I couldn't help but notice that you are dragging a mattress around campus. Did you get kicked out of your dorm? Are you moving?"

"No, I'm not moving and I did not get kicked out of my dorm. My name is Emma Sulkowicz and I'm dragging this mattress around as my senior art project. When I was a sophomore I was anally raped on this mattress in my dorm room. I'm a senior now, and as expression of my art, I intend to drag this mattress everywhere with me until the guy who raped me 2 years ago is kicked out of school, or I graduate, whichever comes first."

"Uh, OK. Good luck, Emma. Looks like it's going to rain. Could I get you a tarp or something?

[umair127]

in other word, or in her words, as soon as the alleged rapist is expelled or her justice is served, all those psychological burdens will just all of a sudden disappear.

I wouldn't view it as that. I would imagine that justice for the crime, or knowing that her rapist can't harass her anymore, is one of the first steps in the healing process. Unless you think she has just been faking panic attacks when her rapist is around.

If you read the same article I did, then I have to wonder how you came to the conclusion, even though the college administration is apparently incompetent with its records and the same guy was accused of assault by other women, that the guy that needs defending? Since 'the guy' apparently got away with multiple sexual assaults, I don't think he needs speaking up for. The term rapist is far from below the belt.

I take most stories coming out of Columbia with a grain of salt. It is known for being pretty wild in the dorms. They have had a very open co-ed dorm policy since 2010. Guys and gals can bunk up together in the same dorm room (sophomore year or later).

When I was in college, I made the mistake of dating 3 girls from the same dorm. One day I walked in to pick one up, and all 3 were sitting together by the reception desk. I turned around and walked off. Never again. Had they wanted to be assholes, I could have easily been brought up on 3 charges of sexual assault.

Beware tales of rape from the land of wild dorms, where wild things like rape can happen. After all, when I was in college, I dated three whores, and any one of them could have turned me in for rape had they decided to be bitches about it.

Look, they're whores in Whoreville. They can't really say no anyway, so what's the big deal. These whores could ruin a real life here if taken too seriously.

[noviapriani]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

[Rigon]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

[PeanutCoins]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

[noviapriani]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

lets be blunt: you are young and pretty and wear revealing clothing and then walk into a party where booze is flowing and teen age guys are looking to get laid.

There is culpability there.

[Rigon]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

You are, as an idiot, living in some sort of false utopia where criminals do not exist and crimes are not committed and therefor it is un-necessary to take preventative measures to minimize the potential of becoming a victim.

Rape is not ok under any circumstances, neither is assault, battery, robbery, burglary nor murder. In the real world, all these crimes exist and the perpetrators live amongst us.

[PeanutCoins]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

lets be blunt: you are young and pretty and wear revealing clothing and then walk into a party where booze is flowing and teen age guys are looking to get laid.

There is culpability there.

Yeah that's why we charge the young and pretty with wearing revealing clothing where booze is flowing and teen age guys are looking to get laid. First degree asking for it. See it on judge tv all the time.

[Rigon]

You don't leave your car parked on the street unlocked. You don't leave your home with the doors and windows open, why then, as a woman, would you not exercise a modicum of common sense and not at least take measures, depending upon the situation, to protect against the unwanted manipulation of your Vayjayjay or ass?


In reality

[PeanutCoins]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

You are, as an idiot, living in some sort of false utopia where criminals do not exist and crimes are not committed and therefor it is un-necessary to take preventative measures to minimize the potential of becoming a victim.

Rape is not ok under any circumstances, neither is assault, battery, robbery, burglary nor murder. In the real world, all these crimes exist and the perpetrators live amongst us.

All that shit and still you're just blaming the victim because it's easier than admitting you view pussy as an object that just happens to be attached to another human being.

[latinna]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

You are, as an idiot, living in some sort of false utopia where criminals do not exist and crimes are not committed and therefor it is un-necessary to take preventative measures to minimize the potential of becoming a victim.

Rape is not ok under any circumstances, neither is assault, battery, robbery, burglary nor murder. In the real world, all these crimes exist and the perpetrators live amongst us.

All that shit and still you're just blaming the victim because it's easier than admitting you view pussy as an object that just happens to be attached to another human being.

It's funny. I was going to make a comment about objectification, and I just dismissed the idea because I didn't think either of them would understand.

[Rigon]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

You are, as an idiot, living in some sort of false utopia where criminals do not exist and crimes are not committed and therefor it is un-necessary to take preventative measures to minimize the potential of becoming a victim.

Rape is not ok under any circumstances, neither is assault, battery, robbery, burglary nor murder. In the real world, all these crimes exist and the perpetrators live amongst us.

All that shit and still you're just blaming the victim because it's easier than admitting you view pussy as an object that just happens to be attached to another human being.

Are you are still wanting to just blame the man when both parties actions may have led up to the eventual outcome? I have had enough drunk fucks in my life to realize it often takes both participants to get to the point of making the beast with two backs, and later remorse by one of the parties should be just that. Remorse and not a rape charge.

[hackjack]

She waited almost a year from the alleged rape to report it. If what she said happened actually happened then it was rape no question, but by waiting that long it is just her word versus his.

Without evidence I'm not sure what you think the school or authorities can/should do. That's honestly the problem; it's hard for authorities to distinguish between rape and consensual sex in cases like this especially where consensual sex had occurred in the past and in this case where the rape started out as consensual sex.

There's really no laws that will change this, it has to be a change in behavior.

[PeanutCoins]

Once again I am, as a father, a husband, a brother, and a son, absolutely disgusted and terrified by the things that apparently some guys find tolerable.

I am, as a father, a husband, an uncle, a brother, and a son, absolutely amazed at the level of stupidity and naiveté continuing to be exhibited by young ladies in situations where their instincts should tell them to have their guard and radar up and functioning.

You are, as an idiot, blaming the victim for not avoiding the aggressor. Rape isn't ok if the woman wears something other than a burka and is unescorted.

You are, as an idiot, living in some sort of false utopia where criminals do not exist and crimes are not committed and therefor it is un-necessary to take preventative measures to minimize the potential of becoming a victim.

Rape is not ok under any circumstances, neither is assault, battery, robbery, burglary nor murder. In the real world, all these crimes exist and the perpetrators live amongst us.

All that shit and still you're just blaming the victim because it's easier than admitting you view pussy as an object that just happens to be attached to another human being.

Are you are still wanting to just blame the man when both parties actions may have led up to the eventual outcome? I have had enough drunk fucks in my life to realize it often takes both participants to get to the point of making the beast with two backs, and later remorse by one of the parties should be just that. Remorse and not a rape charge.

Yes, I'm blaming the rapist for the rape. Mostly because rape is a crime, as opposed to an unfortunate crossroads of a guy is horny and a woman made it too easy for him not to rape her.

[hackjack]

Sorry. Her story didn't sell. It didn't sell to the campus police (most of which are retired police from other jurisdictions). It also didn't sell to the NYPD, who also investigated her case (and the other 2 collaborating stories). Poor victim. Maybe in solidarity, you should help her drag her mattress around for awhile....

[noviapriani]

She waited almost a year from the alleged rape to report it. If what she said happened actually happened then it was rape no question, but by waiting that long it is just her word versus his.

Without evidence I'm not sure what you think the school or authorities can/should do. That's honestly the problem; it's hard for authorities to distinguish between rape and consensual sex in cases like this especially where consensual sex had occurred in the past and in this case where the rape started out as consensual sex.

There's really no laws that will change this, it has to be a change in behavior.

What makes you think people are looking for the school or authorities to do anything? In general, people are pointing out that a couple of posters here are idiots for their AQ like world view.

[hackjack]

She waited almost a year from the alleged rape to report it. If what she said happened actually happened then it was rape no question, but by waiting that long it is just her word versus his.

Without evidence I'm not sure what you think the school or authorities can/should do. That's honestly the problem; it's hard for authorities to distinguish between rape and consensual sex in cases like this especially where consensual sex had occurred in the past and in this case where the rape started out as consensual sex.

There's really no laws that will change this, it has to be a change in behavior.

What makes you think people are looking for the school or authorities to do anything? In general, people are pointing out that a couple of posters here are idiots for their AQ like world view.

Oh, carry on then.

[noviapriani]

She waited almost a year from the alleged rape to report it. If what she said happened actually happened then it was rape no question, but by waiting that long it is just her word versus his.

Without evidence I'm not sure what you think the school or authorities can/should do. That's honestly the problem; it's hard for authorities to distinguish between rape and consensual sex in cases like this especially where consensual sex had occurred in the past and in this case where the rape started out as consensual sex.

There's really no laws that will change this, it has to be a change in behavior.

Yeah we can't do anything about it, so let's just hope behaviors change. Maybe fucking will go out if style in the near future, and then men can finally focus on the inhumanity of shoving things inside people who don't want things shoved inside them.

[latinna]

Sorry. Her story didn't sell. It didn't sell to the campus police (most of which are retired police from other jurisdictions). It also didn't sell to the NYPD, who also investigated her case (and the other 2 collaborating stories). Poor victim. Maybe in solidarity, you should help her drag her mattress around for awhile....

The inability to prosecute doesn't mean three people lied about what happened to them, idiot.