Carry That Weight

One in every six women have been raped or attempted rape at one point in her life. Unfortunately, Emma Sulkowicz was one of those. On her first day of sophomore year, the Columbia University student was raped by a classmate.

Instead of feeling embarrassed or shamed, she brought this terrible act to the University board in attempt to get her rapist expelled from the school. Despite other women claiming similar adults by the same student, the attacker was found not responsible by the University.

Sulkowicz vowed from then on to carry her mattress around with her at all times until her attacker was taken out of the school and she could feel safe again. After the case heating, she filed a federal complaint against Columbia for violating the gender equity law of Title IX and mishandling the sexual assault cases.

As a student and as a woman, Emma’s rights were taken away from her. Her “Carry That Weight” campaign has called attention from government officials and the

media. As long as the University allows her rapist to attend the same school, the will continue the project. She has the right to feel safe at college and protection.

While this one in six number will not change over night, this immense violation needs to be deterred, which starts from the acknowledgement, from Columbia University in this case, that this is unacceptable and a violation of the highest degree.