Unity in Community

Typically, a dorm room is an intimate space to which one can retreat to when the outside world becomes too overwhelming, but in the case of Emma Sulkowicz, the opposite is true. For Sulkowicz, the room is a constant reminder of the traumatic experience of her recent past. During Sulkowicz’s first day of sophomore year at Columbia University, she was sexually assaulted by a classmate in her own dorm room. Following her report of the assault to the University, Sulkowicz accused the administrators of mishandling and dismissing the case against her attacker. As a form of protest, Sulkowicz has begun to carry a dorm mattress around with her in order to symbolize the burden that is constantly placed on her shoulders and also to highlight the sacrifice that must be made in order to eradicate it. She has proclaimed that she will continue to incorporate carrying the mattress into her everyday life until the University expels her alleged rapist.Columbia has had a variety of rape incidents in which the victims have stated that their investigation was not dealt with properly. For instance, another student victim from Columbia, who prefers to solely go by her first name, Rosie, stated that when she reported her sexaul assault that took place on campus in 2009, she was made to feel that the administration didn’t believe her. When she described her attack to two deans in a meeting, one blurted out, "Huh, What? Sorry, I wasn’t listening."Columbia’s reaction to sexual abuse on campus disappointed many people across the country. It is unacceptable because it has discouraged students from reporting their cases, and further damaging victims who—after a great deal of internal struggle and courage–came to the administration seeking help and instead receiving just the opposite. It is the University’s responsibility to care about and support their students. This reaction was especially shocking, because Columbia is one of the most prestigious and respected institutions in the country.Despite Columbia’s lack of action, Sulkowicz still intends to bring to light the severity of not only her case, but also the rape culture at Columbia. By carrying the mattress around campus, Sulkowicz has been able to channel her frustration and pain into an active form of protest that has spread awareness all across the country. The mattress externalizes the painful burden Sulkowicz carries internally after the incident. "The idea of me having to carry around my pain everywhere I go was reflected in me bringing the mattress, which is kept in a safe place...in the public eye," Sulkowicz explained. Some have argued that this idea is false or that Sulkowicz is using it simply for her senior thesis. This argument is not only disrespectful, but it attempts to invalidate or undermine the severity of Sulkowicz’s rape and its effects.One of the important rules in her thesis is that she does not verbally ask others to help carry the mattress, but she welcomes any help offered to her. She mentioned that there has only been one instance in which she has had to carry the mattress by herself without anyone offering to help. This symbolic act of carrying the weight together and alleviating the survivor’s burden especially resonates, because it shows the strength of people coming together and empowering a victim to feel loved and supported by a community she once felt betrayed by.The unity of the community was exemplified on September 12, 2014, when several Columbia students, including 50 victims, gathered and rallied behind roughly a dozen mattresses, displaying signs such as "Stand With Survivors," "Carry That Weight" and "CU Has A Rape Problem," collectively protesting against the University. This event sent a powerful message to the country. We should stop tolerating injustice and find the strength to liberate others. In order to successfully get the protesters’ point across to Columbia’s administrators, many more forms of protest are necessary. It is truly inspirational to watch the Columbia community unite and support a fellow student as well as others affected. During times of hardship and misfortune, it is especially empowering for the victims to know that they are not alone, that there is still good in the world for them to believe in and hold onto."A mattress is the perfect size for me to just be able to carry it enough that I can continue with my day, but also heavy enough that I have to continually struggle with it," Sulkowicz said. This quote perfectly portrays the constant struggle placed on victims’ shoulders, and it is a struggle in which we should support victims, not undermine them. 