Columbia student Emma Sulkowicz vows to carry mattress around university

[umair127]

At Berkeley, Karasek said she remained worried that such ambiguity could be used to further hurt survivors and that requiring verbal consent would make it easier to “avoid the ‘he said, she said’ that college administrators try to make rape cases out to be.”
An estimated one in five women is sexually assaulted during college. Emma Sulkowicz says she was raped in her own bed. Photograph: Kristina Budelis for Guardian US Opinion We’ve come a long way in the last four decades on sexual assault, but this necessary shift to “yes means yes” will not be an easy one. (Let’s also not forget that it was just four years ago when male students from Yale University were caught on tape chanting “No means yes, yes means anal.”)
The feminist movement of the 70s shined a light on “date rape” – the most common kind of sexual assault that once went ignored is now widely-understood to be a pervasive problem. Twenty-one years ago, marital rape was still legal in some states, but now legislation decries the idea that marriage equals constant consent. Today, politicians and activists alike increasingly recognize that everything we did before is simply not enough: despite these shifts in policy and public perception, rape is still far too common – approximately one out of every five women is sexually assaulted in college.
And that’s just what’s reported, according to the White House. That’s just in America. That’s just in college.
When I spoke to Sulkowicz about her unofficial senior project – she calls it Mattress Performance: Carry That Weight – the brave 21-year-old said something I think most people who care about the issue of violence against women can relate to. “It’s going to be an endurance piece,” she said. In some ways, battling rape always has been.

so they are making a science out of saying yes or no to sex.

If people were to actually go along with this, it would finally legislate abstention. And probably no sex after marriage either. It's an impossible standard in the real world. Only an idiot would vote for it, so it has a reasonable chance to pass in California.

Women might be forced into actually having a rational conversation about sex. Or probably not, and vibrator stores would be swarmed.

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[Rigon]

At Berkeley, Karasek said she remained worried that such ambiguity could be used to further hurt survivors and that requiring verbal consent would make it easier to “avoid the ‘he said, she said’ that college administrators try to make rape cases out to be.”
An estimated one in five women is sexually assaulted during college. Emma Sulkowicz says she was raped in her own bed. Photograph: Kristina Budelis for Guardian US Opinion We’ve come a long way in the last four decades on sexual assault, but this necessary shift to “yes means yes” will not be an easy one. (Let’s also not forget that it was just four years ago when male students from Yale University were caught on tape chanting “No means yes, yes means anal.”)
The feminist movement of the 70s shined a light on “date rape” – the most common kind of sexual assault that once went ignored is now widely-understood to be a pervasive problem. Twenty-one years ago, marital rape was still legal in some states, but now legislation decries the idea that marriage equals constant consent. Today, politicians and activists alike increasingly recognize that everything we did before is simply not enough: despite these shifts in policy and public perception, rape is still far too common – approximately one out of every five women is sexually assaulted in college.
And that’s just what’s reported, according to the White House. That’s just in America. That’s just in college.
When I spoke to Sulkowicz about her unofficial senior project – she calls it Mattress Performance: Carry That Weight – the brave 21-year-old said something I think most people who care about the issue of violence against women can relate to. “It’s going to be an endurance piece,” she said. In some ways, battling rape always has been.

so they are making a science out of saying yes or no to sex.

If people were to actually go along with this, it would finally legislate abstention. And probably no sex after marriage either. It's an impossible standard in the real world. Only an idiot would vote for it, so it has a reasonable chance to pass in California.

Women might be forced into actually having a rational conversation about sex. Or probably not, and vibrator stores would be swarmed.

I'm thinking there is no guy on the planet, who is about to get some nooky, that will stop and say "hey honey, I need your permission to have sex. You ok with that?" It sort of spoils the mood, especially the part where you get her to sign the preprinted form letter.

[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.

Honestly, just about all of them understand what it's like to fear violation. I think this is really why so many go to such great lengths to excuse this sort of thing when it happens.

He admits that forcing women to have sex with him is the only way in which he can get laid.

Au contraire. There is no fun in forced sex. All that crying, screaming and physical restraints. I just pay cash to get laid. Female escorts bring no emotional baggage to the table, or bed as the case may be; I don't have to listen to their problems, they listen to mine; and best of all, they can give most porn stars a run for their money in the sack. And all I have to do is give up a few hundred bucks. Not a bad investment, right?

Yeah, cause all those women who are "escorts"... they went into the sex trade willingly, eyes wide open.

It is nice to know that the ones you congregate with don't cry in front of you. That's the nice thing about emotional baggage for a sex worker: if the Johns don't see it, it doesn't exist.

Rather limited, puritanical perspective you have going there. Do you ever dine out or go out for drinks? Do you think all waitresses and bartenders went into their trade willingly? It's a job. They too are service workers and are paid well (at least when I tip them) to keep their emotional baggage away from their work and me.

The Puritanical worldview is the one that condemns sex work as fundamentally sexually immoral. I do no such thing. But I do despise you for taking advantage of emotionally badly-damaged young people. You do what ISIL does, congratulations.

[Rigon]

Personal service work is not for the whiny ones, escorts, bartenders and waitresses included, amongst many others.Whiners don't last long in any service trade.

I remember when I was 13 and I ran away from home. Six months later I was living with someone twice my age, who told me I was loved, then shot me full of heroin and made me wait tables until I was too sore to walk. Dipshit...

[awesome31312]

Personal service work is not for the whiny ones, escorts, bartenders and waitresses included, amongst many others.Whiners don't last long in any service trade.

I remember when I was 13 and I ran away from home. Six months later I was living with someone twice my age, who told me I was loved, then shot me full of heroin and made me wait tables until I was too sore to walk. Dipshit...

I'm sorry to hear that mate.

[umair127]

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.

Honestly, just about all of them understand what it's like to fear violation. I think this is really why so many go to such great lengths to excuse this sort of thing when it happens.

He admits that forcing women to have sex with him is the only way in which he can get laid.

Au contraire. There is no fun in forced sex. All that crying, screaming and physical restraints. I just pay cash to get laid. Female escorts bring no emotional baggage to the table, or bed as the case may be; I don't have to listen to their problems, they listen to mine; and best of all, they can give most porn stars a run for their money in the sack. And all I have to do is give up a few hundred bucks. Not a bad investment, right?

Yeah, cause all those women who are "escorts"... they went into the sex trade willingly, eyes wide open.

It is nice to know that the ones you congregate with don't cry in front of you. That's the nice thing about emotional baggage for a sex worker: if the Johns don't see it, it doesn't exist.

Rather limited, puritanical perspective you have going there. Do you ever dine out or go out for drinks? Do you think all waitresses and bartenders went into their trade willingly? It's a job. They too are service workers and are paid well (at least when I tip them) to keep their emotional baggage away from their work and me.

The Puritanical worldview is the one that condemns sex work as fundamentally sexually immoral. I do no such thing. But I do despise you for taking advantage of emotionally badly-damaged young people. You do what ISIL does, congratulations.

I'm not taking advantage of emotionally badly damaged young people. The escorts I use are well educated, most are fluent in at least 3 languages and are excellent conversationalists. You must be hanging out with underage crack-whores to make such a generalized statement regarding sex workers.

As to your situation at age 13, I wish I could have been waiting tables.

Growing up, I was moved from Foster home to Foster home. Some were good, and some were horrible. I was moved to my last one at age 12. Husband and wife who owned a small business. I lived with them until I was 18.

I graduated 8th grade at age 13, and immediately went to work in their family business.

[umair127]

A little background info for you. In Texas at that time you were required to attend school until you passed the 8th grade or turned 18, whichever came first. High School was optional. They weren't required to send me to high school, so they didn't. I was needed more in the family business.

The family business was a salt mine in Grand Saline, TX. and I got to shovel salt all day every day excluding Sundays. I tried to get out numerous times but could not get a court to grant my request for minor emancipation and social services would not move me to another Foster home. Running away really was not an option, because there is not much to run away to from Grand Saline. So I shoved salt until my 18th birthday when I borrowed enough money from the minister at the church we went to every Sunday to buy a bus ticket to Dallas and left.

[noviapriani]

A little background info for you. In Texas at that time you were required to attend school until you passed the 8th grade or turned 18, whichever came first. High School was optional. They weren't required to send me to high school, so they didn't. I was needed more in the family business.

The family business was a salt mine in Grand Saline, TX. and I got to shovel salt all day every day excluding Sundays. I tried to get out numerous times but could not get a court to grant my request for minor emancipation and social services would not move me to another Foster home. Running away really was not an option, because there is not much to run away to from Grand Saline. So I shoved salt until my 18th birthday when I borrowed enough money from the minister at the church we went to every Sunday to buy a bus ticket to Dallas and left.

1. I don't think he meant he himself was on heroine and waiting tables. More like a play on the service comparison and how age and vulnerability and drugs should be considered when making stupid, stereotypical entitled male judgements.

[noviapriani]

2. You got on a bus, and that's what people just need to do. You didn't shovel salt soooo why are these women staying around to get raped? Take a bus to a respectable place where they have respectable jobs and dress respectably and rape doesn't happen unless you really ask for it.
Problem solved.

[awesome31312]

2. You got on a bus, and that's what people just need to do. You didn't shovel salt soooo why are these women staying around to get raped? Take a bus to a respectable place where they have respectable jobs and dress respectably and rape doesn't happen unless you really ask for it.
Problem solved.

Not sure if you're trolling, or you really don't know the definition of "rape"

You sound like you're from the Bronze age, are you from Texas?

[leannemckim46]

2. You got on a bus, and that's what people just need to do. You didn't shovel salt soooo why are these women staying around to get raped? Take a bus to a respectable place where they have respectable jobs and dress respectably and rape doesn't happen unless you really ask for it.
Problem solved.

I would certainly not say that women are asking to get raped as a result of how they dress. There are also no "respectable" places where rape does not happen, this is a crime that happens all over the world.

I would say that women are "asking" for some level of attention when they dress provocatively however it is crazy to say they are asking to get assaulted (or anything worse). 

[EternalWingsofGod]

Thought this might be in need of an update
Here are the results (Nothing)

Parents of Columbia University student who accused classmate of rape rip school for lack of action

Senior Emma Sulkowicz is carrying around a mattress to protest the school's inaction in her case. Her parents criticized the 'prolonged, degrading and ultimately fruitless process' in an open letter to the Columbia Spectator.

In an open letter to the Columbia Spectator published on Thursday, doctors Sandra Leong and Kerry J. Sulkowicz ripped the school for its "prolonged, degrading and ultimately fruitless process" regarding their daughter's case.

"If Columbia remains passive in the face of Emma’s suffering, and does not attempt to rectify the injustice done to her, survivors at Columbia will feel discouraged from entrusting themselves to the system that Columbia has recently worked so hard at putting into place," the parents write in the letter

(Still carrying the mattress)

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/parents-columbia-student-accused-classmate-rape-rip-university-article-1.1962312


___
Comments
If the NYDN wants to carry a story like this, they should also include facts that readers might find relevant. The young lady in question did not file a police complaint until long after reporting the alleged rape to Columbia, and she only did that 9 months after the fact. Consequently, there is no physical evidence and there are also no witnesses to the alleged rape. I believe rapists should face severe penalties, but not without proof. There seems to be none here aside from she-said-he-said.

[awesome31312]

The university will never comment on the issue in an attempt to preserve their image when it comes to the press.

I got permanently censored by Facebook for sharing links about this

[mnmShadyBTC]

Thought this might be in need of an update
Here are the results (Nothing)

Parents of Columbia University student who accused classmate of rape rip school for lack of action

Senior Emma Sulkowicz is carrying around a mattress to protest the school's inaction in her case. Her parents criticized the 'prolonged, degrading and ultimately fruitless process' in an open letter to the Columbia Spectator.

In an open letter to the Columbia Spectator published on Thursday, doctors Sandra Leong and Kerry J. Sulkowicz ripped the school for its "prolonged, degrading and ultimately fruitless process" regarding their daughter's case.

"If Columbia remains passive in the face of Emma’s suffering, and does not attempt to rectify the injustice done to her, survivors at Columbia will feel discouraged from entrusting themselves to the system that Columbia has recently worked so hard at putting into place," the parents write in the letter

(Still carrying the mattress)

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/parents-columbia-student-accused-classmate-rape-rip-university-article-1.1962312


___
Comments
If the NYDN wants to carry a story like this, they should also include facts that readers might find relevant. The young lady in question did not file a police complaint until long after reporting the alleged rape to Columbia, and she only did that 9 months after the fact. Consequently, there is no physical evidence and there are also no witnesses to the alleged rape. I believe rapists should face severe penalties, but not without proof. There seems to be none here aside from she-said-he-said.

I don't think this is a good/effective way to protest how they handled the situation.

I do agree that it is unfortunately little more then a he-said-she-said situation and would really not be proper to do anything to the guy without any proof

[nsimmons]

I suggest every member of the lynch mob here read this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

and this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process

No evidence, no trial, no conviction. Tough shit.

Accusation isn't evidence.

[awesome31312]

I suggest every member of the lynch mob here read this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

and this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process

No evidence, no trial, no conviction. Tough shit.

Accusation isn't evidence.

Stop kissing the buttcheeks of rape apologists

No investigation was launched against the rapist.

[ChiliPowder]

I suggest every member of the lynch mob here read this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

and this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process

No evidence, no trial, no conviction. Tough shit.

Accusation isn't evidence.

Stop kissing the buttcheeks of rape apologists

No investigation was launched against the rapist.

Im a bit confused, as far as I know rape is usually delt with by calling the police. Why is this chick demanding he gets kicked out of school? Why didnt she call the cops and instantly get the rape kit from the hospital? I dont think it is up to the school to kick people out on word alone. You know how many guys would be kicked out of school if drunkie drunk girl said he raped me? I am not saying that is the case here by any means but I dont get why she didnt get the police involved if she was raped. Same goes for the other 2 girls.

[awesome31312]

I suggest every member of the lynch mob here read this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magna_Carta

and this,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Due_process

No evidence, no trial, no conviction. Tough shit.

Accusation isn't evidence.

Stop kissing the buttcheeks of rape apologists

No investigation was launched against the rapist.

Im a bit confused, as far as I know rape is usually delt with by calling the police. Why is this chick demanding he gets kicked out of school? Why didnt she call the cops and instantly get the rape kit from the hospital? I dont think it is up to the school to kick people out on word alone. You know how many guys would be kicked out of school if drunkie drunk girl said he raped me? I am not saying that is the case here by any means but I dont get why she didnt get the police involved if she was raped. Same goes for the other 2 girls.

Drunk women cannot consent. No investigation was launched against him. Normally, a police report results in an investigation at least.

[Grand_Voyageur]

I think the Whole issue maybe was due to who pay for the Campus police.