Survivors

#CarryThatWeight

To continue the conversation about sexual assault from my last post, I am now looking at a campaign that was inspired from one student’s bravery.

Emma Sulkowicz, now a senior at Columbia University, came forward this past spring about her experience of being sexually assaulted her sophomore year at Columbia. (Sulkowicz) Initially, Emma did not report the assault but when she met two other women who had been sexually assaulted by the same attacker, Emma knew she had to come forward. (Sulkowicz)

Emma and the two other girls quickly saw the flawed system that Columbia was using for sexual assault cases. Their hearings did not take place until seven months after reporting the incident and the panelists continuously questioned how the details of their story could be possible. (Sulkowicz) Emma found herself trying to retell this terrible story, while simultaneously having to educate the panelists and Columbia faculty on sexual assault. (Sulkowicz) Follow this link for Emma’s full story and video.

Emma’s rapist was ultimately found guilty. (Sulkowicz) Although Emma appealed this decision, the appeal was sent to the Dean – another faculty member not trained or educated in sexual assault care. (Sulkowicz) Emma admits that universities, including Columbia, feel pressured to find these students not guilty so they can push it all under the rug. (Sulkowicz) If they took the time to facilitate a thorough investigation and truly understand the campus culture, then they would have to admit that they are harboring these serial rapists. (Sulkowicz) The sad reality is that universities are more focused on their public image than keeping people safe. (Sulkowicz)

Although Columbia may have tried to silence this incident, Emma would not give up that easily. She vowed to drag her dorm room mattress around campus until Columbia expelled her rapist. (Taylor) This act was meant to make a point while also being a part of a performance art piece she called “Carry That Weight/Mattress Performance.” (Taylor)

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Emma’s story and mattress statement quickly spread throughout the country. (Taylor) Unfortunately, Emma’s story is not unlike many other college students. For this reason her message resonated with numerous campuses and as a result a Facebook group called “Carrying the Weight Together” was created. (Taylor) In this group, students from all over the country shared photos of people holding up mattresses and showing solidarity on their campuses. (Taylor)

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When Emma began carrying around her mattress as a powerful visual symbol for her art project, she would have never imagined the support and feedback she would receive. (Taylor)

“It just really took off! I think a lot of other people felt a pretty deep connection to the symbolism and to the message of her piece,” Zoe Ridolfi-Starr, one of the activists on campus who’s organizing alongside Rickard, told ThinkProgress. “We decided that we should do something strategic with that, and make this a moment where we really channel this energy and passion into a collective national day of action.” (Culp-Ressler)

October 29, 2014 marked a national day of action, encouraging students and faculty members to carry a mattress together to support survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Leading up to the day of action and throughout October 29th, supporters used #CarryThatWeight to share their campus’s messages and photos.

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This movement and hashtag could not have come at a better time, as the discussion of sexual assault on college campuses has been dominating the media in the past few months. (Culp-Ressler)

Emma Sulkowicz had the courage to stand up for herself and face an administration that was less than understanding to her case. She made a negative situation, a bit more positive by sharing her story and making a powerful statement through a simple action. Her voice and actions gave other survivors and college campuses the power to make their stand.

#CarryTheWeight united their messages and brought colleges together on the national day of action. Although the conversation around sexual assault is not over, Emma and all the supporters of #CarryTheWeight have allowed universities to take positive steps forward.

As this wraps up my specific hashtag analysis, take a look at my next post that explains the psychology behind social sharing and why all these hashtags have been so successful.

#CarryThatWeight

Works Cited:

Culp-Ressler, Tara. “Columbia Student’s Mattress Protest Has Sparked A National Movement.” Think Progress. N.p., 29 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/10/29/3585773/college-students-solidarity-rape-victims/&gt;.

Sulkowicz, Emma. “My Rapist Is Still on Campus.” TIME. N.p., 15 May 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <http://time.com/99780/campus-sexual-assault-emma-sulkowicz/&gt;.

Taylor, Victoria. “Columbia student carrying mattress on campus brings attention to anti-sexual assault movement.” Daily News. N.p., 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 20 Nov. 2014. <http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/columbia-mattress-student-draws-attention-anti-rape-movement-article-1.1948842&gt;.