When senior Emma Sulkowicz began hauling her dorm room mattress around Columbia University for her thesis, titled “Carry that Weight,” she did it to protest her school’s inaction toward her rape and to symbolize the hurt she’s carried with her for the two years since it happened. On Wednesday — two months later — students across the U.S. helped with her burden, carrying mattresses around their own campuses to show support for sexual assault survivors everywhere.
Yesterday was known as #carrythatweight Day of Action.
And students from universities around the nation carried their beds…
…Just like Sulkowicz has been doing since the semester started. Two other students allege Sulkowicz’s attacker raped them too, but all three cases were dismissed by the university.
Last month, fellow Columbia students held a protest and helped her hoist the bed from place to place.
But this time, the protests were on a much larger scale.
Students rallied together in groups, making their own signs, plastering mattresses with their messages and marching around town to be heard.
Schools that were involved included Agnes Scott College in Georgia
Harvard University in Massachusetts
Mansfield University in Pennsylvania
Stanford University in California
DePaul University in Illinois
Clark University in Massachusetts
And, of course, Columbia in New York.
Related: Emma Sulkowicz Tells Us What It’s Like Becoming A Voice For Survivors.
Not only did Sulkowicz start a conversation on her campus (where her alleged attacker still goes to school), but she helped spark more awareness around the country.
It gives you a lot to think about.
As for for Columbia, here’s part of a statement they sent MTV News yesterday.
To help out, visit CarryThatWeightTogether.com .
If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, call the 24-hour National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (1-800-656-4673), or visit Rainn.org.
Emilee LindnerMember of MTV News' Cat Braintrust, has an unhealthy obsession with pork dumplings and tweeting Austin Mahone's mom.
@emileelindner
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