Columbia University Sued for Aiding Mattress Girl

[nc-1701]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/...-male-student-in-carry-that-weight-rape-case/

“Columbia University’s effective sponsorship of the gender-based harassment and defamation of Paul resulted in an intimidating, hostile, demeaning . . . learning and living environment,” reads the federal discrimination lawsuit filed Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

I find it interesting because similar to the UVA story I remember my friends making a big deal about 'stand with mattress girl' type of things back when this kicked off. Followed by silence as it imploded.
From a legal perspective I don't see how the university is responsible for what the girl says, etc. In general I'm supportive of schools permitting free speech by students, even when it might be harmful. But I also find it pretty weird that she got course credit for this. Finally the dude has clearly suffered pretty badly from all of this and it's not like he is likely to get much restitution from the girl... Though it is Columbia so she probably does have wealthy parents.

Spoiler :

Though I do think it was probably worth a PE credit

Spoiler :

Thank God I didn't waste any money on a private school

 

[Kyriakos]

Hm.

Just burn him. Deus Volt.

 

[JollyRoger]

The guy is German national? This is what happens when we open up our campuses to all that diversity nonsense.

 

[Kyriakos]

The guy is German national? This is what happens when we open up our campuses to all that diversity nonsense.

I barely noticed that prior to writing my post.

 

[Tahuti]

"Nice mattress, do you need someone to share it with?"

 

[Kyriakos]

She is an art student. If you carry your mattress with you, you are what is underneath it.

Frame the mattress and sell it to Tate Modern.

 

[Triewd]

I hope he wins and wins big

 

[gay_Aleks]

Tell me with who you sleep and I'll tell you what you are.

 

[Borachio]

Tracy Emin's artwork

My Bed was bought by Charles Saatchi for £150,000 and displayed as part of the first exhibition when the Saatchi Gallery opened its new premises at County Hall, London (which it has now vacated). Saatchi also installed the bed in a dedicated room in his own home.

When it was announced, in May 2014, that the work was to be auctioned, David Maupin, Emin’s dealer in New York, described the £800,000 - £1.2 million estimate as too low.[5] When auctioned by Christie's in July 2014, the piece was sold for a little over £2.5 million.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Bed

So, mattress girl's behaviour was a piece of performance art? As was the act of suing the University?

 

[Kennigit]

Finally the dude has clearly suffered pretty badly from all of this and it's not like he is likely to get much restitution from the girl... Though it is Columbia so she probably does have wealthy parents.

P(no restitution from girl) = 1

Sulkowicz is not named as a defendant in the suit, which focuses instead on how Columbia has responded to her project.

This is actually fairly interesting to me, as someone who doesn't really follow these types of news. I believe a very large criticism of the way colleges handle rape (or harassment, etc) is treating it through these university disciplinary committees and not as actual criminal cases, as seems to be the case here. I.e. it is not actually handled by real police.

Now the same core issue manifests itself in trying to assign these non-criminal law binding review findings to protect someone from (potential) harassment.

Perhaps to strawman a bit, but the coverage of this will likely be a stupid "one side versus the other" rather than establish actual legitimacy in the process.

Legally the free speech stuff will never get resolved and I'd doubt the professor allowing a thesis would cause any repercussions. Like, there probably isn't any thing barring carrying a mattress into a classroom or library or around campus unless it is an obstruction in a fire code.

But the snippet of a columbia-owned website can easily bring about libel charges.

This now brings the thread to 4 relevant posts and 6 irrelevant posts. My money is on the irrelevant posts to take it!

 

[Triewd]

Ok Here is the principles that where violated by Mattress Girl:

1 Innocent until proven guilty by going around with that Mattress
2 Related to 1 the right to fair trial

3 The right to let people live their lives.

And here are the principles violated by the university:

as well as the above they have:

1 Allowed a witch hunt
2 Brought themselves and others into contempt
3 Failed to protect Paul from the efforts of others (related to 1)
4 Allowed total Hypocrisy



https://reason.com/blog/2015/04/24/student-accused-of-rape-by-mattress-girl

As a result of Defendants’ actions, Paul’s entire social and academic experience at Columbia has suffered tremendously. In adherence to Columbia’s Confidentiality Policy, he did not discuss any of the investigations with any of his classmates. Yet Emma did the exact opposite, gaining support from classmates, professors, the administration, and President Bollinger. Emma has not faced any consequences for breaching the confidentiality policy.

Silenced, and also enduring suspensions and increasing ostracism from his two main social activities (ADP and the Columbia Outdoor Orientation Program ("COOP")), Paul’s social life crumbled to the point of isolation. Even after being cleared of the outrageous allegation, no serious attempt was ever made by the university to rehabilitate him within those groups. Day-to-day life is unbearably stressful, as Emma and her mattress parade around campus each and every day.

Due to this ostracism, and threats to Paul’s physical safety, University resources such as dorms, libraries, dining halls, and the gym are not reasonably available for Paul’s access. Even attending classes has become problematic, as he has endured harassment and has had his photo taken against his will while in class.

I am a great believer in Free speech I would even allow what many would consider 'hate speech'

But this in my opinion crossed the line and lawsuit is deserved, those who enable evil under the guise of fighting evil deserve everything that will come to them

The published texts and FB posts are awesome btw

 

[gay_Aleks]

This is one of those cases where both sides seem to be equally unlikeable.

 

[Triewd]

This is one of those cases where both sides seem to be equally unlikeable.

On the contrary what is their to dislike about him?

I mean I surmised the issue with the girl and the University above but wheres the unlikeliness about him? The police did not charge him due to lack of evidence.

 

[nc-1701]

Ok Here is the principles that where violated by Mattress Girl:

1 Innocent until proven guilty by going around with that Mattress
2 Related to 1 the right to fair trial

It's probably worth noting that this is one of the times where that is pretty irrelevant. You do not need to prove some one guilty in order to accuse them, that would be rather silly.


This is just a rather clear cut defamation/harassment suit I think.

 

[Triewd]

It's probably worth noting that this is one of the times where that is pretty irrelevant. You do not need to prove some one guilty in order to accuse them, that would be rather silly.


This is just a rather clear cut defamation/harassment suit I think.

Well yes it is a defamation/harassment lawsuit yes.

But I disagree over the right to be considered innocent until proven guilty she by carrying on her 'protest' violated his rights he had. Other students treated him as guilty even though he was not - thats the issue here.

 

[Kennigit]

other students are irrelevant

 

[gay_Aleks]

Unless they start filing cases against poor Paul and how he filled
their hearts with fear while not actually raping them.

 

[Kyriakos]

Tracy Emin's artwork

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Bed

So, mattress girl's behaviour was a piece of performance art? As was the act of suing the University?

I recall that idiocy. Why anyone would regard that bed with stains and stuff as "art" is in my view outside the category of appreciating art and firmly inside the category of having the mentality of an advisor in that story "The Emperor's new clothes".

 

[Borachio]

This now brings the thread to 4 relevant posts and 6 irrelevant posts. My money is on the irrelevant posts to take it!

I'm blowed if I can tell the difference.

 

[cardgame]

For more background, the NYT wrote a decent article about it in December.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/22/nyregion/accusers-and-the-accused-crossing-paths-at-columbia.html

Daily Beast also weighed in, with more detailed information about the case. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/03/columbia-student-i-didn-t-rape-her.html