By Austin Bucci
Staff Writer
A Columbia University Senior has led her own fight against the school’s lack of action when she was vocal about her on-campus rape to administration. Emma Sulkowicz was forced to retell her tale to officers, campus security, and the dean repeatedly, only to be told that the violent act she described could not be possible.
Where other students backed down when their own cases were dismissed, Sulkowicz decided to speak out against what she believed was blatant injustice. She has made it not only her personal statement, but her senior performance art thesis, to carry a mattress like the one she was raped on around to her classes until her rapist is taken off the premises.
A large portion of the student body has banded together to support Sulkowicz through a vulnerable point in her life and her brave statement, even helping her carry her mattress through campus. Columbia sophomore Zach Heinemann replied, when asked about the impact Sulkowicz has had throughout the student body, “That’s part of what’s so wonderful about performance art is the power it has to reach people. Emma has been a strong activist on the topic for quite some time, but it wasn’t until she did this that it made such a huge stir.”
When asked how he sees this issue progressing to justice Heinemann added, “While the problem definitely is getting better, it’s on a long, slow haul. The really sad part is that this isn’t really limited to just Columbia. It’s a national problem, but when a national problem happens notably at such a widely known university…it becomes much more common knowledge than people realize,”
This issue especially raises the question of whether it is right to speak out against the decisions of people of authority when those decisions make those it affects feel oppressed or undermined. Senior Jennifer Chamberlin is in agreement with Sulkowicz decision to speak out about an authoritative action she felt victimized her. “I feel what she did was very brave and noble, and I think it was necessary because what the school was doing wasn’t right. She technically didn’t break any school rules but managed to raise awareness about something very important to her, it’s really the way to do it,” Chamberlin said.
