text:
Emma Sulkowicz has had enough.
As the movement against sexual assault on campus continues to grow, Sulkowicz, CC '15, has decided to take matters into her own hands by filing a police report against the Columbia student who allegedly raped her a year and a half ago.
Sulkowicz went to the police after finishing her final exams on May 13 and filed the report early in the morning on May 14.
The man named in the report as Sulkowicz's alleged attacker is Jean-Paul Nungesser, CC '15. Nungesser's name appeared in the list of four "rapists on campus" found on bathroom walls and on printed flyers around campus this past week.
According to the police report, Sulkowicz had had consensual sex with Nungesser twice before the alleged rape. Sulkowicz said that on the night of Aug. 27, 2012, she and Nungesser started to have consensual sex again, when suddenly things changed.
According to the report, Nungesser "hit her [Sulkowicz] across the face, choked her, and pushed her knees onto her chest and leaned on her knees to keep them up." He then "grabbed [Sulkowicz's] wrists and penetrated her anally."
Sulkowicz reported to police that she told Nungesser to stop, but that he did not. She "struggled with [Nungesser] and tried to push his arms away," according to the police report, but "[Nungesser] kept going and suddenly stopped without ejaculating."
Sulkowicz said that she didn't want to report her attack to the police because she was embarrassed and ashamed of what had happened to her.
"When it first happened, I didn't want to talk to anyone. I didn't even tell my parents. ... I didn't even want to talk to my best friend," she said.
Sulkowicz decided to file a complaint against Nungesser through the University when she met two other women he allegedly assaulted. "I realized that if I didn't report him he'd continue to attack women on this campus. I had to do it for those other women," Sulkowicz said.
After Sulkowicz reported her assault to Columbia in April 2013, the University ultimately found him "not responsible"—the same decision it later gave the two other women who filed complaints against him, Sulkowicz said.
The University declined to comment for this story, and Nungesser did not respond to request for comment.
Because Columbia uses "preponderance of evidence" as the standard of proof when adjudicating cases of sexual assault and gender-based misconduct, a hearing panel must be convinced that a policy violation is "more likely to have occurred than to not have occurred" in order to find a student responsible, according to the University's policy.
This is the standard of proof that the Department of Justice and the Office for Civil Rights say colleges should use when adjudicating cases of sexual assault, but Sulkowicz said she still feels her case was decided incorrectly.
If Nungesser is charged by the New York County District Attorney's Office, the standard of proof—as in any criminal case—will be "beyond a reasonable doubt," a much higher standard than "preponderance of evidence."
Spectator has reached out to the NYPD for comment on the status of the investigation into Sulkowicz's complaint. An NYPD spokesperson said how these sort of complaints are handled varies on a case-by-case basis.
Sulkowicz said she doesn't know for certain what the police will do next but that police told her they would be putting a district attorney on the case.
"I understand if it's too late, but I really hope he does [get charged]," she said.
Sulkowicz's story has been picked up by national media outlets from CNN to ABC, and last month she spoke about her assault at a press conference with New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand. After being featured in two recent New York Times articles, Sulkowicz noted that many of the comments on the pieces seemed to wonder that she had not reported her alleged rapist to a higher authority at the time.
"People kept making comments like, 'Girls are so dumb, they should just go to the police. Obviously the school isn't going to deal with it.' I wanted to see for myself if I should have gone to the police," Sulkowicz said. "I figured maybe they have a point. Maybe his name should be in the public record," Sulkowicz added, referring to her alleged attacker.
Sulkowicz, whose name appears on the police report as "Emra Suhkowicz" due to a spelling error by the police, says the experience of filing the report is not one she wants to repeat.
"There's a reason survivors choose not to go to the police, and that's because they're treated as the criminals," she said. "The rapists are innocent until proven guilty but survivors are guilty until proven innocent, at least in the eyes of the police."
Sulkowicz said she felt badly mistreated by the officers who came to her residence to take her statement. Because she and Nungesser had had consensual sex twice before he allegedly assaulted her, Sulkowicz said the police were dismissive of what she had to say.
"He emphasized certain things, like the fact that I had consented earlier on in the night," Sulkowicz said of the officer to whom she told her story.
"And I said, 'Yeah, but then he [Nungesser] started strangling me and I definitely didn't consent to that.'"
Sulkowicz said the officer asked repeatedly about what clothes Nungesser was wearing at the time and was surprised when Sulkowicz couldn't remember specific details from the incident, which occurred more than a year and a half ago.
"He [the officer] was like, 'So you don't remember what shoes he [Nungesser] was wearing? Oh. Most women do,'" Sulkowicz said.
From her residence hall, Sulkowicz was driven to the local precinct offices, where she was asked to fill out forms describing her assault as domestic violence—despite the fact that she and Nungesser were never in a relationship—and questioned by a detective from the Special Victims Unit.
During that time, she said, the policeman to whom she originally gave her statement was standing outside the room, actively dismissing her story to the friends she had brought to the precinct office with her for support.
"They told me he said stuff like, 'Of all of these cases, 90 percent are bullshit, so I don't believe your friend for a second,'" Sulkowicz said.
Sulkowicz said that the officer also repeatedly emphasized to her how "painful" the process of investigating her alleged assault would be and how much it would "hurt" her.
"It makes perfect sense why a survivor wouldn't go to police the moment after she's been physically violated," she said. "If all the police are doing is stressing she's going to suffer more, it's unimaginable."
Sulkowicz said this is why Columbia needs to be improving its own adjudication process for sexual assault. She, like many activists on campus, is happy to see Columbia making policy changes like those outlined in the statement released Thursday by University President Lee Bollinger. Sulkowicz said she was especially glad to see the addition of a second location for the Rape Crisis/Anti-Violence Support Center in Lerner Hall, which is accessible to all students on campus.
The RC/AVSC's move, as well as the announcement that it will now provide round-the-clock counseling from a trained professional in addition to the existing peer counseling system, is one of many changes student activists have been pushing for all year.
The most recent round of student activism has taken the form of the lists of alleged rapists posted in bathrooms around campus, which has also gained national media attention.
"That's still a problem. The fact that the University sends Public Safety to tape down the bathrooms—I think that's a stifling of sorts," Sulkowicz said, referring to the University's response to the lists. Most of the written lists were wiped away soon after they were discovered, and Facilities put tape across several bathrooms in Butler Library while removing the names.
"For other graffiti they wouldn't tape the bathroom down. If it were a drawing of a smiley face, they wouldn't do that."
Columbia does not comment on specifics of sexual misconduct cases, but the University issued a statement earlier this week in response to the lists of alleged rapists. "The University is mindful of the multiple federal laws that govern these matters and provide important protections to survivors of sexual violence and to students engaged in our investigative process. These laws and our constitutional values do not permit us to silence debate on the difficult issues being discussed," the statement said.
Some students and online commenters have raised concerns that by publicizing the names of these alleged "rapists on campus," activists are disrespecting the named students' privacy by spreading unconfirmed information. Sulkowicz says that because she knows women who have allegedly been attacked by the men on the list, she views the situation differently.
For her, and many others, the University's policy changes are a step in the right direction, but have done little to address individuals' concerns about running into their alleged attackers on campus.
"At the end of the day, my rapist still goes to this school and they haven't done anything about that," Sulkowicz said. "What good is all this if I know my serial rapist is still going to be attacking women on campus?"
Incredible brave of her to do this. Puts names in open, highlights problems with police treatment of victims, (What Kirsten Gillibrand should really be pushing on the city for) and provides concrete facts about her assault. While Columbia could certainly have better procedures, as a normative matter it is hard to see how a college is equipped to be better at dealing with crimes than a Court in the abstract. School proceedings are useful due to their preponderance of the evidence standard, but the most outraging part of this article should be the failure of our criminal justice system to balance "innocent until proven guilty" alongside the validity of the victim's account.
Kristan Gillibrand went to Dartmouth, the drunk and rape capital of the US. She should try to work on her own school first.
Emma Sulkowicz | Emra Suhkowicz (on NYPD Report) - Lying to conceal the truth?
Okay seriously what is your obsession with this notion that she LIED about her OWN NAME on a police report that she VOLUNTARILY filed? What would she be trying to cover up? She has been publicly speaking about this case for like a semester now, she's chosen to be identified with it. She's given public comments and been interviewed on national television. Why would she purposefully write it incorrectly in a police report?
And more importantly, we are you literally obsessed with suggesting that she did? I don't think anyone is buying this... what's you point here?
It really makes you seem like a crazy person to keep asserting all over these comments that she intentionally misspelled her own name. Seriously crazy, or seriously involved....
Oh, are you suggesting the cops lied, the way the one cop lied about how many false rape reports there are? Hey, ANOTHER reason to have him dismissed! I mean, it's not like SHE would NOT KNOW how to SPELL HER OWN NAME or anything, right?
Or that she would pick a name that sounds phonetically the same if she were somehow insane enough to want to make a false police report.
You're an idiot.
This post is well-put and balanced. Columbia's institutional failures in addressing sexual abuse, protecting its students, and investigating the accused are well-documented, both by campus publications and the broader press. But commentators here and elsewhere are moving dangerously close to equating the accused with the guilty. One requires a statement, the other, proof. We as a community must think long and hard about sexual abuse, and what it means if both the university and the courts find someone not guilty. Should there be consequences for those who make public accusations that result in not guilty, but in the process ruin the accused's life? Should those distributing anonymous flyers that equate accusations of sexual offense with guilt also go unpunished, if such accusations prove false? Do we, as a community, bear at least some responsibility to to choose our words judiciously, recognizing that we must not, in our struggle to protect future victims of sexual abuse, terrorize the innocent accused, while bringing justice to the guilty.
"Balanced" - exactly how is it balanced.
We heard from her, from rape advocates, and not from him or for advocates of the falsely accused (Innocence Project for instance) or from those who see how due process on campuses are being tilted horribly out of whack.
If you are really interested in what's going on and how this witch hunt is not helping real victims of sexual abuse, nor the falsely accused men, please read this article. Universities' hands are tied - they are not capable of dealing with such cases.
Oh, STOP LYING!
Emma, you are so brave. I'm proud to be your classmate.
And the police's misspelling of Emma's name is like a scene out of a farce. If I'd read that in the Onion, I'd have thought the writers were being too heavy-handed.
Ben you're an idiot. NYPD is very accurate in how they take down data. Mispronouncing a name is what she did. Reason? Searching name on NYPD report won't reveal her real name. Both of you are a disgrace to Columbia.
I'm happy for Ms. Sulkowicz for finally reporting to police, but this is clearly a 'symbolic' gesture. Are we really blaming the police for seeming a bit dismissive, if they are trying to file a report and she cannot recall many details of the night, and has no physical evidence, and the school itself has already dismissed the case? Unfortunately, these things must be reported immediately. It's a shame that many rapists get away with it, but courts rightfully demand hard evidence before locking someone behind bars and exposing him as a rapist. Still, I commend Emma for her bravery.
That's a real backhanded "commendation" there, anon. Did you really not read the things they said to her? That's not "a bit dismissive," it's flat out looking for things to use against someone who's coming to them for help. It absolutely blows my mind how the same people who bleat "go to the police!" on all these articles then downplay the very real and painful experience that reporting to the police almost always is for survivors. If you really want to help, listen and validate her story and ask how you can best support her. It's really not that hard and it makes all the difference.
Maybe if you had been restrained and violated in the manner that she was you might not remember the TYPE OF SHOES you attacker was wearing. I have a feeling she was a bit preoccupied and scared for her life to hold onto those kinds of details.
And for the record, it's not "many" rapists that get away with it. It is nearly ALL rapists. 97 percent of all rapists walk free.
This kind of skeptical attitude is EXACTLY why 54 percent of women do not report their assaults.
To be clear, is "the problem" that I am assaulting people? that I somehow can control how police file their reports? that I insist that a court of law demands physical evidence? I'm sure you've never filed a police report, but these things are extremely thorough, for all sorts of crimes.
PS. that 97% statistic, which is already a bit misleading (including/especially because the vast majority of people don't report assaults, as you say, but they are included in that statistic), is only serving to dissuade people from reporting to the police and try to put criminals in jail. Would you rather these police reports WEREN'T thorough? because, in case you didn't realize, the police submit these reports as evidence to help the VICTIMS. It is a jury, not the police, who adjudicate these cases, so all pieces of information are helpful. But whatever, I'm just a problem-making rape apologist for encouraging victims to report crimes to the police.
Emma was brave to do this, and as described, her attacker sounds like a menace. Of course, with a "beyond a reasonable doubt" standard, he is even less likely to be found guilty than in the university proceeding, and therefore probably won't be charged.
Emma is not to blame for her attack. But doesn't part of the blame lie in the casual hook-up culture and drinking-to-get-drunk culture that a significant proportion of college students take for granted? And which promote an "anything goes" and "sex - and extreme sex - is no big deal" attitude? Obviously the law has not caught up to that culture, as the police labeled Emma's attack as "domestic violence" even though she insists (and Spectator agrees) that she was never in a relationship with the attacker despite the fact that she had consensual sex twice before and the event of that day started out as consensual.
The attacker never should have become violent or committed acts she did not want. She never asked for that. Both men and women have to realize that a casual sex culture does not mean a license to violate someone's limits. But partaking of that culture also means that juries and law enforcement may well give the alleged attacker the benefit of the doubt depending on the circumstances.
In an ideal world, intelligent men and women like thaose at Columbia would droink only enough to provide a "social lubricant", but not so much as to lose their common sense.
nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope
fuck you for pretending to be sympathetic before rehashing the same tired victim-blaming speeches that have been tossed around for years and literally change NOTHING
the only way to prevent rape is NOT TO RAPE SOMEONE
It's not victim-blaming. Nowhere in the post did he or she ever state it was Emma's fault (in fact, at one point it's stated that it is *not* the victim's fault). The statement instead is talking about the cultural norms that complicated handling of this situation - specifically that the law does not define well enough the delineation between a domestic dispute and a rape, and that law and general society understand a relationship (particularly marriage, but also relationships) as a form of implied consent.
This is erroneous - a married women still needs to give consent to her husband, but the law (or at least the enforcement of the law) may sometimes operate with that presupposition. That particular presupposition is what the commenter calls out - because there was a preexisting relationship of some kind (in the form of previous encounters rather than an official relationship) the nature of the crime in the eyes of police is different. This is absolutely due to hookup culture and the law's inability to differentiate between casual hookups and a real relationship, and rape and domestic violence. Nowhere does the commenter even say that the way the law treats it is *right* (it isn't) but instead ascribes a potential reason for the improper handling.
I hate hate hate that rational discussion is drowned out by immediate vitriolic response. Even if someone is wrong, and it's victim blaming, explain to them why it's victim blaming and you're much more likely to get them to understand why it's a crock of shit. If you scream and shout, you teach people to instead bottle up their thoughts. They then don't get the opportunity to express their thoughts, and refine their beliefs by hearing from people with different opinions, and they're more likely to keep on believing the things they do, but just in private.
You learned how to curse!!! How effective to evade the concept of innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Wonder how you got into Columbia.
No, "hook up culture" and alcohol does not deserve part of the blame. Think about it. Most women who drink aren't getting sexually assaulted. The VAST majority of men on campus drink and are NOT rapists.
If alcohol and casual sex was the 'factor' that 'caused' men to rape, then wouldn't every guy who was drinking be raping women? This idea that men will turn into rapists once they've had a few shots assumes a very predatory, outdated notion of men that is sexist and extremely insulting. And it's wrong. Most men are not rapists. But the ones who ARE raping women (we're talking about FOUR percent of the college population, who commit around 90-95% of rapes) are doing it...over and over again. Most rapists are serial offenders, who target vulnerable victims. Alcohol is used as a tool of rape, and research has shown that many men will also consume it before they sexually assault someone to make it easier AND to provide a justification for their behavior (Lisak 2002, McWhorter 2009, Graham 2014).
Rape is a pre-meditated, calculated crime people. The rates of sexual assault hasn't changed at universities for the last 30 years. Clinging on to sensationalist taglines like "hook up culture" and "alcohol" to make it seem like rape is a 'new thing' is ridiculous. We aren't going to solve this issue until we get to the real cause of rape -predators, rape culture that supports predators getting away with their crimes, and lack of institutional support for survivors and accountability for rapists.
For more information, read here: http://thinkprogress.org/health/2013/10/29/2844951/link-alcohol-sexual-assault/
p.s. I really encourage people to do their research before they decide to comment on such a sensitive topic. Stating opinions that resort to victim blaming can seriously trigger readers, especially survivors, many of whom are living with PTSD and for whom an ignorant comment can set off a panic attack.
The attitude expressed in the postscript is appalling.
It is Victorian prudery translated into 21st-century psychobabble.
Back then, they would have said, "Do take care not to offend a lady's delicate sensibility -- or she may suffer a fainting spell!"
Women are liberated now! They have the confidence and the fortitude to hold their own in an argument. They don't need to be protected from contrary opinions.
No, it's not about women being too delicate to handle it. It's about the fact that many survivors and victims of sexual assault—and they span all genders, races, and creeds—retaining various forms of PTSD after an incredibly traumatizing experience. Just because trigger warnings originated in the sexual assault movement doesn't mean they aren't applicable to a lot of content that can set off a person's psychological fear response, if you think about it.
No. That is such bullshit. There's no fucking way I'm going to hold my opinions in because someone might have a panic attack if they hear me expressing my opinion. I don't care if they were raped by Satan himself, if talking about it turns them into a babbling pile of trauma, they need to see a doctor because they AREN'T CAPABLE OF RATIONAL DISCUSSION OF THE ISSUE. Nobody should have to censor their thoughts on the off chance someone can't take them. Let's also be careful of the very subtle implication that if what you say sends a PTSD rape victim into a relapse, what you said is automatically wrong. That's a fucking fallacy right there.
"Trigger warnings are designed to help survivors avoid reminders of their trauma, thereby preventing emotional discomfort. Yet avoidance reinforces PTSD. Conversely, systematic exposure to triggers and the memories they provoke is the most effective means of overcoming the disorder. According to a rigorous analysis by the Institute of Medicine, exposure therapy is the most efficacious treatment for PTSD, especially in civilians who have suffered trauma such as sexual assault."
How many drinks can you have before its okay for some sicko to rape you? The rapist is to blame for rape. You take the rapist out of the equation and there's no rape.
That does not make sense.Victims all the time use the excuse that they were too drunk to consent, it also follows that the assailants can also use the same excuse they were too drunk to know what they were doing. Drinking is bad.
Perpetrator inebriation is not a mitigating factor for the defence in any crime, rape included. Victim inebriation is an aggravating factor for the prosecution case.
If a jury thinks that consensual sex and drinking alcohol make rape acceptable, then we have to hope that the judge and prosecutor, and eventually the culture at large, will correct them.
Having consensual sex should not at all be considered as part of a devil may care drinking culture, as far as I have read, there has been no mention of alcohol. This is a victim blaming speech, and EXACTLY the kind of attitude that allows "boys to be boys" and tells girls that "if you didn't wear that skirt, then he wouldn't have wanted to attack you".
Really?! I mean really?! You are gonna blame the "casual hook-up culture"?! If I say no it means NO!!!!
Everyone needs to learn that first lesson!! No means no.
If the report is a matter of public record, does that mean this officer's name is as well?
Emma, thank you for being so brave and for helping to make our campus a safer place by not giving up. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Emma - lying about your name - how do we know you weren't lying about the rape?
Which is more likely - she lied about her name, or they misspelled it? Obviously, her name is difficult to spell, unlike mine. If she wanted to lie about her name, wouldn't she have given a totally different name?
I'm confused as to what Miss Sulkowicz wanted the university or the police to do vis a vis Nungesser. There is literally no evidence linking him to her crime. Should they find him guilty based on her word alone?
Why should I fuck off? That's a very legitimate question, and you clearly have no answer.
It is a legitimate question, and I don't know why any rational person would tell you to fuck off.
The answer is: the police won't be able to do anything. There is no conceivable way that the courts could find him guilty beyond reasonable doubt, especially seeing as there is no physical evidence of the assault whatsoever.
However, it does allow his name to be put on the public record, which is a legal way for Emma to disclose his identity, and help the rest of the community know who he is, and shun/avoid him as necessary.
This was extraordinarily brave of you Emma. Here's hoping his now outed-identity, and the shame and repudiation he will undoubtedly receive from his classmates, will force him to leave the university of his own accord.
Because TWO OTHER WOMEN told the same story, asshole. And Columbia still threw up their hands. STFU, rape-apologist.
No, the two other women told quite different stories; both were troubling but neither could be remotely described as rape. Only Emma Sulkowicz has made that allegation.
and it doesn't mean that people who question are condoning rape. Filing charges after 2 years..... well, you can expect that questioning will be thorough and tough. Otherwise everyone could be ruined based on someone's word alone. Sorry, but justice doesn't work that way! This is pure witch hunt and most of you are acting irrationally.
fuck off to someone who asks questions, what does that say about you? What kind of person are you that you are not capable of defending your argument with better words? I'll tell you why - because you and NO argument. You're part of the hysteria that will harm all of us. Grow up.
You have no idea whether she has any evidence--that isn't discussed in the article. I don't know where you got the idea she has zero evidence. I'm also assuming that she wouldn't detail in an online campus forum the evidence she was planning to use against her rapist, so that his army of lawyers could use it to AGAIN thwart her attempts at justice (he is from a rich international family and will undoubtedly bring in a storm of legal advice for this trial, just like they did in the University hearing process.)
He's really a sick son of a bitch and I truly hope he gets what coming for him.
You say "based on her word alone," but there is more evidence than that. Emma suffers the effects of being raped -- she has the signs and symptoms that constitute the "wound" that rape victims are left with. We can verify that she was traumatized, victimized, and her testimony provides credible evidence of the details of that trauma, including the man who inflicted it upon her. Why is her testimony inherently untrustworthy to you, simply because this crime is masked in the costume of sex? I am sure the police could also still obtain corroborative evidence, in the form of witness accounts, that show the two were together, that put the rapist at the scene of the crime, as well as pattern evidence showing that this piece of dung has done it before. "He said/she said" is an out-of-date all-purpose excuse for continuing the terrorism of rape.
where women described in detail how they were raped just to admit months later that all they said was fabricated. Now, only Emma and the guy she slept with (consensually!) know what happened. Emma has signs and symptoms... really? Has she been in therapy or have those signs emerge just recently?
Emma suffers the effects of being an artless art student who had to come up with something "significant" for her senior project.
Emma suffers the effects of being an artless art student who had to come up with something "significant" for her senior project.
She must file against Bollinger, all the deans, and campus police too, for aiding and abetting.
The rape epidemic in Columbia, and in college campuses in general, is appalling. Coercing someone into sexual intercourse is a vile form of physical and emotional abuse and it is a shame that PrezBo is managing this crisis so poorly.
I fully empathize with Ms. Sulkowicz and I am strongly inclined to believe her story because similar claims have been made about Mr. Nungesser by other women as well. It is likelier that he indeed is a sexual offender than that Ms. Sulkowicz and the two other unnamed women are in cahoots in a grand conspiracy against Mr. Nungesser.
With that said, however, I do believe that being dismissive about the "hook-up culture" is not helpful. When Emily Joffe wrote this on Slate, so-called feminists tore her apart but if intoxication or being sexually forward is rendering a young woman vulnerable to sexual predation -which I believe does-, trying to keep the hookup culture a taboo and calling anyone who raises the issue sexist is not helpful.
Let's be realistic. Rapists rape. They always have, they always will. We cannot pretend that there is a panacea that could somehow eradicate sexual aggression, there is none. Proving rape once it happens is more difficult than predicting and pre-empting rape before it happens. College presidents across America are having trouble handling rape cases not because they are vile sexists giving cartes blanche to sexual aggression. There are serious legal liabilities attached to unfairly expelling some from a college, let alone the reputation risks. Without conclusive proof, all is presumed innocent and the very nature of sexual intercourse making it really difficult to have prove consent. Sexual intercourse, consensual or non-consensual, often happens away from the public eye. It happens at the intimacy of a dorm room, a frat house, a car ride; not on Low Plaza.
Don't get me wrong; rape never is and never can be the victim's fault. Rape, however, is prevented by pre-empting it, by not making yourself a target for sexual predation. To say that rape is prevented by not raping is no different than saying that the solution to drunk driving is not to drink and drive. Drunks drink, rapists rape. If drinking renders you incapable of driving, you hail a cab. If drinking renders you vulnerable to sexual predation, you drink in moderation. That's the solution; neither to binge drink so that you cannot drive even if you wanted or be a teetotaler.
If a world with a bit less booze, cleavage, casual flirting is going to be a world with less women abused, I would be fine with it and so should you. I'd rather endure sobriety than the horrors of seeing a loved one being a victim of sexual predation. Those evangelizing the hookup culture don't realize that they are abetting the rape culture.
It should be pointed out that, according to the story in the Blue & White, the claims made by the other two women against "Tom" (presumably Mr. Nungesser) were quite different and much less shocking than Ms. Sulkowicz's. One of them said she was involved in a relationship with "Tom" that was emotionally manipulative and hurtful. The other said that he grabbed her in a basement at a party and tried to kiss her.
If you look up David Lisak's research, you will find that the majority of serial rapists admit to other forms of violence, including domestic abuse, child abuse, sexual battery, and lesser forms of sexual assault, including coercion. Not every rapist can get away with raping every time. But if someone is accused of rape by one person and accused of lesser forms of sexual assault by other people, then that is in fact a strong indicator that this is a predatory individual who will use whatever tools he has at his disposal to get what he wants sexually. And keep in mind...these were the victims we have heard from. I'm sure there are others out there.
if they're emotionally manipulative? Are women that incapable of moving on after having been with someone who is emotionally manipulative, that they have to brand them as "rapists" and trying to ruin their lives? They need protection from the State and the entire community? What is this? This is total insanity. This overcorrection is going to hurt everyone.
Some are. Each person handles things differently and not every person has the psychological development, tools, or fortitude to "move on" as you put it.
You had me until you got derailed and started pointing fingers at "not making yourself a target for sexual predation". Then you went into telling women that by "less booze, cleavage" or "casual flirting" somehow this will render a Un-Rapable woman. Wow…Rapists rape. Females are victims of rape from the age of 6 months to 77+.
A person can say "no" AT ANY POINT. It doesn't matter if it's the 1st time the two have had sex or the 100th time. It doesn't matter if the two are in a relationship. If someone says "no" and sex continues, that's rape. You're an ignorant prick. But perhaps I'm the ignorant one, for believing that assholes who call brave women "sluts" and victim shame were a thing of the past.
Saying "No" the day after is probably what really happened. After all Emma Sulkowicz | Emra Suhkowicz can't tell her real name when it's Public Record.
Hi Jean-Paul! Bet it sucks knowing your name is out there, for all the world to see. Rapist. Raaaaapist. That's you! Jump when you hear that, frog. And when you finally get arrested and prosecuted and sent to prison, YOU'LL know what it's like to be on the other side, and maybe learn some compassion for victims of sexual assault. You know what I mean, right? Sure you do. Don't drop the soap, son.
Just want to respond to this gross comment on behalf of the student activists who are actually working to end sexual violence on campus, alongside Emma: We would absolutely NOT condone sexual violence within the prison system, nor ever wish such misery on anyone (even a truly fucked up person like JP).
Ending sexual violence on campus means working in meaningful solidarity to end sexual violence in other institutions as well--including the prison system--and dismantling the systems of power and oppression that are at its root.
I sincerely hope that JP gets the justice Emma and other survivors feel he deserves, but am confident this does not mean escalating or perpetuating violence.
Wow, I'm a human, and I can see the things you're writing. That was one of the meanest things I've read so far. I just felt my stomach drop.
Emra Suhkowicz - love how she misspelled her name so NYPD search won't reveal her real name. Women at Columbia are such two faced liars. Sex one night. Next morning they say its rape. Virgin conscience.
IS THIS REAL LIFE? IS THIS REALLY HAPPENING? You should be ashamed of yourself.
I provided them with my driver's license so that they could copy it letter for letter.
We stand in solidarity with you Emma. You are very brave for reporting him and dealing with the idiotic administration because you wanted to protect the next potential victims. Rest assured, it's only a matter of time before he goes to prison or gets beaten badly by a survivor. Society isn't going to tolerate criminals like him anymore. Look at who finds him despicable and it's nearly everyone: men, women, conservative, liberals, young and old. Just watch and see how he burns his own future to the ground with frankly what I think is a severe mental illness. He deserves to rot in the prison cell he will eventually call home.
I believe you Emma. A cop who can't spell is much more likely than you lying about your name on a police report you voluntarily filed. These anonymous cowards who post this crap are vile.
Quit illegitimzing and sensationalizing rape. Sorry things didn't work out for you in the sack, next time I recommend a swift knee to the scrotum to communicate things are getting a little rough. The stories of women getting violently assaulted by strangers in dark alley ways are being drowned out by your loud theatrics.
SOOO PATHETIC that JP/whoever he told to comment on this article are making themselves just even WORSE stfu
You're an idiot. It's the police station, they require your actual identity to report a crime, and impersonation/identity theft is a felony. She would have had to give an ID or a social security number or identification.
Also, if she is voluntarily reporting the crime against her and wants him (you?) prosecuted, why would she give a false name? Stupid, stupid.
Clearly, you have reason to discredit her story here. No one is buying this dumb argument.
I bet your parents wish they could get a refund for you. I know if I were them I would have wished that I had used a condom on the unfortunate night you were conceived. You are an embarrassment to men everywhere.
@ The guy above me: You can have sex with a person for n-th time and allow for any sexual act you like. Once the person withdraws consent, that's rape. So the answer to your (rhetorical) question is yes. If I continue to anally penetrate my sexual partner without her consent, even had she consented initially but later balked, that's rape. You should get your facts right.
By the way, to call the victim of a non-consensual sexual act a slut is the textbook definition of slut-shaming. Rape never is and never can be a victim's fault.
You're wasting your time. Rapists think their way is the norm. They think all guys rape. This rapist think he's just "keeping it real"--he's just saying what everyone else thinks. He doesn't know civilized people, including 99% of his dudebro friends, would shun him if they knew what he was so bravely saying here, over and over and over. But he's a rapist, and they deserve to be put down. Hopefully he attacks the wrong person one day who fights back and kills him. Wouldn't that be great? One less rapist to worry about.
We still continually only hear her side of the story in every news outlet possible. There is no story here until the young man is also interviewed and allowed to speak. Obviously when Columbia heard all the facts he was found innocent. And a university"s proof a guilt is substantially lower than that of a court of law.
You say "allowed to speak" as if someone is preventing him from speaking. He has declined comment to every news source that has reached out to him. He doesn't want to speak. You also assume that "Columbia heard all the facts," when during the hearing they suppressed evidence and allowed him to make up lies and describe disgusting fantasy sex scenes. Columbia suppressed the truth and plugged their ears to the facts.
Seconding above. Legally, media outlets are obligated to reach out to him for comment, and have been doing so. HE is the one refusing to comment--no doubt at the advice of all of his lawyers.
These are the same lawyers he hired for the cases at Columbia, and they manipulated the system to suppress critical evidence and refuse to allow important witnesses. Read the article from earlier this year: When he was actually found guilty in one case, he and his lawyers appealed after the victim had already graduated. Valentini granted him a whole NEW trial, totally outside of regular protocol. This meant that the victim couldn't even participate because she was away living her life, and that a whole new panel considered the evidence, without EVER hearing from or seeing her. Not surprising, then, that he was found not guilty. The system is fucked.
In that particular case, the victim who graduated also declined the option to review and comment on his statement over email and provide her own account.
It's not like she was completely shut out of the appeal - she was offered a chance to participate and chose not to.
have you heard of the phrase "you have the right to remain silent, whatever you say can and will be used against you in the court of law." Its pretty much present in every hollywood movie.
Of course he is going to shut the fuck up. He says anything and its going to be twisted and used against him.
An innocent man would be speaking up. If I was falsely accused by a woman, I'd be talking to every last journalist calling me. What do you want him to say? "I'm fucked up mentally and deserve chemical castration? I come from a long line of rapists?"
I'll tell you what he's saying: "I've raped at least three women and have gotten away with it thanks to the incompetence of Columbia's administration. I will continue my criminal activities until one day I get caught and thrown into prison or someone gives me a well-deserved shot to the head as a service to the community."
He can go to hell and so can the cowardly rapist-defending administration. We should be demanding that every one of them gets fired.
I'm weary of pointing this out, but he did not rape the other two women who complained, by their own accounts. Read the Blue & White story. Anyone who claims he did has a cavalier disregard for the facts, and their opinion may be safely ignored.
An innocent man with a lawyer will most certainly NOT speak out.
ANY and ALL statements (you've heard of the Miranda Warning, right, Ivy League?) he makes CAN and WILL be used against him.
We still continually only hear her side of the story in every news outlet possible. There is no story here until the young man is also interviewed and allowed to speak. Obviously when Columbia heard all the facts he was found innocent. And a university"s proof a guilt is substantially lower than that of a court of law.
"...until the young man is also interviewed and allowed to speak."
>>>Nungesser did not respond to request for comment.
Oh, come on, how can these men possibly speak when there is a witch hunt out to hang them.
Yes, it must be awful to try to explain your situation to someone and be dismissed, let alone ridiculed when you only want to see justice done.
The only thing that is causing problems for him is his own criminal activities. You don't see the rest of us men at Columbia worrying about being part of a witch hunt because we're not busy raping people.
It benefits everyone for the campus to be rid of the small percentage of criminals. Their place is in jail not on a campus filled with potential targets for these sickos. Expel him, prosecute him through the legal system, lock him up and throw away the key. He will not be missed.
Next you're going to be telling us that Sandusky was innocent and a victim of a witchhunt because you are dumbass that has a hard time grasping reality. Grow some balls bro and stand up for what's right.
"Grow some balls bro and stand up for what's right". Well, bro, I should think what's right isn't taking a morally superior attitude and creating a false sense of solidarity with your fellow "bro's" on campus. Indeed, the "grow some balls" comment is particularly clumsy on this board. How about stopping to deliberate, considering the evidence, and recognizing that our justice system, however inept, is preferable to the judgement of the masses, especially the "grow some balls bro" masses.
The title is misleading and purposefully anti Columbia. She is not "frustrated by Columbia's inaction" in fact Columbia acted quickly and swiftly and took her seriously. She is angry at the outcome of the report that was not in her favor. The decision is what it is. If she wants to lower the standards of proof, then she needs to take this in a different direction.
Yes, Columbia acted "quickly and swiftly" if you count postponing the case for 8 months just because Mr. Nungesser had "academic conflicts" every step of the way, such as studying for midterms.
It is the understatement of the decade to say that if you have three different women accusing you of sexual assault, at a minimum you had better reexamine your sexual practices.
I am not sure how this makes Columbia at fault, however. There are no allegations in this story of procedural irregularities or that the victim was denied her rights to a hearing on the issue. It was simply the decision that she disagrees with. Other than adopting standard where the victim is automatically believed and the accused is automatically convicted, I am not sure how Columbia could do anything differently.
Did you read what the "assaults" were? " He tried to kiss me" " he touched my arm."
Did you miss the part about choking and nonconsensual sexual acts? Or are you the rapist's Grandma?
Did YOU miss the part where the other two assaults were "he touched my arm" and "tried to kiss me"?
Let's try a compare and contrast:
Someone who claims [Jane] has a history of false accusations and lying and used two other examples:
"She said I smelled bad - but she knew I had gone to the gym" - therefore this would be proof she had a history of lying and exagerating (and be ridiculous)
"She came up to me and totally exagerated an argument she had with a roomate" and therefore is unbelievable and a liar (again, ridiculous)
Neither should be included in proof that an alleged rape victim is lying - as should neither of the two other "assaults" be included in proof he raped anyone.
See how that works? A single standard. That whole equality thing .... it's not just there for you when it's convenient.
It is the understatement of the decade to say that if you have three different women accusing you of sexual assault, at a minimum you had better reexamine your sexual practices.
I am not sure how this makes Columbia at fault, however. There are no allegations in this story of procedural irregularities or that the victim was denied her rights to a hearing on the issue. It was simply the decision that she disagrees with. Other than adopting standard where the victim is automatically believed and the accused is automatically convicted, I am not sure how Columbia could do anything differently.
Columbia let a person who raped three people back on campus so yeah, I'd say they're at fault.
He did not rape anybody. They were "assaults." This is why this story has gotten out of hand.
So say you and her - which she reported 2 years later.
As to the other two "assaults" - grabbing someone by the arm?! Seriously. **YOU** have never done that, or could be accused of that?
Does that make YOU suspect in intimate partner violence - I mean if you want to apply that standard, start with YOU.
"Tried to kiss me" - and apparently was rebuffed and took no as an answer.
Have YOU ever tried to kiss somone? Should we put you on the sexual assault registry too?
I mean - you DO believe in a single standard ... right?
So basically she as an adult had consensual sex for the umpteenth time with the same guy, and did not like how he did it, one time, days later, after talking to friends who also slept with him bragging and comparing notes. Hmm.
"Umpteenth," huh? I guess if the intricacies of the word "no" are too tough for you, so are numbers higher than two.
I guess I'll avoid ever having sex with you, OP. Seems like "no" sounds like consent to you...
Ladies and gentleman, beware: the above thinks like a rapist. Avoid at all costs.
Wrong. It is naive and dangerous for women to consent to 99 out of 100 things, then cry foul on the hundredth. All of these "assaults" were people who knew each other and had already slept together several times and with multiple partners. You can see how these cases are so difficult.
Yeah, very few people enjoy being strangled when they're having sex. Some do, but it's a small minority. Better to err on the side of caution, boys, and not strangle the person you're having sex with.
Good rule for life.
What? So by your logic, since my boyfriend and I have had consensual sex many times, that gives him the right to do anything he wants to with my body at any time without my permission? No. They had consensual, vaginal sex TWICE (since counting to 2 is so hard for you) prior to the incident and he decided he was entitled to pin her down, hit her, and have anal sex with her in the middle of their normal sexual routine. She said she didn't want that. He proceeded anyway. Thats rape. Plain and simple.
The whole mentality that as long as a woman is okay with having sex with you, you no longer have boundaries is sickening. Its a rapist's mentality and it ruins lives. How about no means no regardless of what you want/feel you deserve?
Men, save your texts. What is to stop any woman from going to the cops after a night of sex.
Literally, what would anyone get out of "going to the cops"? Why would someone make this shit up, given how the police, university, internet, and whole damn world are likely to treat them? There is actually NO reason I can think of that someone would put themselves through the public and private torture of actually reporting these crimes unless they were true. Emma's account here clearly shows that they wouldn't be believed even if it actually was rape, and would be subjected to abusive and victim-blaming interrogations.
Women file false and exaggerated reports everyday against ex boyfriends and ex-husbands.
The false accusation rate for rape is less than that of burglary or other crimes. A little knowledge won't kill ya.
-proven false accusation rate is less. But I think we all understand proving anything when it comes to rape is fairly difficult. So that stat is nonsense.
False allegations are rampant but so are LAWSUITS against them. False accusations are CRIME as is rape. They both ruin lives.
The benefit to women coming forward is we finally get some details upon which to make reasoned judgments, rather than just all the rhetoric we have been hearing. All the details are not in this article, but if three different women (assuming they did not coordinate their stories) all accuse one guy of sexual assault, at some point the college needs to send him packing.
This is a hot topic. ..hope we get it cleared up before graduation, so that we don't have to discuss anal during the ceremony.
Please, never go to the university to report a CRIME. Go to the police. Rape is a crime--not a disciplinary problem. Police handle criminal maters.
The University wants you to go to the administration so that they can cover it up.
Did you read her account of going to the police? Clearly the criminal justice system does not treat rape victims with respect. The university, however, should handle these cases seriously, and expel rapists. The courts are unlikely to find Jean-Paul guilty, but Columbia can and should expel him for committing this horrible crime.
but they have to ask questions. You can't just waltz in, accuse someone of rape, and think that they will take your word for it. If you're not filing false accusations, then you should be able to describe what happened to you and answer their questions. They've seen it all and they can tell immediately when someone is fabricating a story. So Columbia dismissed Emma's claim, and the police, apparently, did as well... So you think this is a conspiracy against her? Don't you have a shred of doubt?
Are you gullible or just want to believe that? The same policeman who dismissed her so disgustingly also said "90% of these are bull$#!t", which is a PROVEN lie.
"The courts are unlikely to find Jean-Paul guilty" but Columbia should expel him? So you know this wouldn't fly in real court but you still think his life should be ruined just to prove your cause? Just because he's a man, he must be a rapist - because you and your crazy biddies say so? You need to grow up, and start using your brain. I'm ashamed to be in the same school as you.
The administrators of Columbia are idiots. Who lets off a three time rapist? What is the likelihood that three separate women would separately report something horrific that "is not likely to have happened". They should fire all the administrators who have aided this criminal. It's obvious that the students there are significantly smarter than those who are being overpaid to keep them safe.
An injustice anywhere is an injustice everywhere.
According to the details, the two other women were not raped. One was touched on the arm, the other complained about an unwanted kiss. I'm a guy, and if we include unwanted touching as a sexual assault, I've been a victim 5 or 6 times already.
According to the details, the two other women were not raped. One was touched on the arm, the other complained about an unwanted kiss. I'm a guy, and if we include unwanted touching as a sexual assault, I've been a victim 5 or 6 times already.
I have had the misfortune of coming into contact with JP Nungesser through mutual friends/film related stuff. What I will say is if I had to make a list of the men at Columbia I would think were the most likely rapists, he would be at or near the top of the list. Through friends and acquaintances I've heard of his strange and downright creepy behavior for almost two years now.
What's more this is a person whose Facebook page (before he wisely took it down today) said he was working at the Korova Milk Bar, a location in the film A Clockwork Orange, which features a hedonistic rape scene. He had to know he was under investigation. No shame whatsoever.
I don't know Emma, but if she as well as two other women have come forward about this, not to mention what I know about JP, I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Columbia should too and expel this guy, even if the evidence isn't there for him to be convicted of anything. When there's this much smoke there must be plenty of fire.
I've also heard of him being a manipulative, creepy piece of shit to women before. i filed his name away as "creepy" before, but am now realizing that people were probably trying to process and/or warn me of significantly more dangerous behavior. I was not at all surprised to see his name show up on that bathroom wall.
From the bottom of my heart, I hope he gets kicked out of this school and rejected from everywhere else--and that somehow he can get some help and stop committing violence against others.
" Columbia should too and expel this guy, even if the evidence isn't there for him to be convicted of anything. When there's this much smoke there must be plenty of fire."
Shirking on due process is the exact reason this situation got so messy. I wouldn't suggest ignoring the process even further as a solution.
I have had the misfortune of coming into contact with JP Nungesser through mutual friends/film related stuff. What I will say is if I had to make a list of the men at Columbia I would think were the most likely rapists, he would be at or near the top of the list. Through friends and acquaintances I've heard of his strange and downright creepy behavior for almost two years now.
What's more this is a person whose Facebook page (before he wisely took it down today) said he was working at the Korova Milk Bar, a location in the film A Clockwork Orange, which features a hedonistic rape scene. He had to know he was under investigation. No shame whatsoever.
I don't know Emma, but if she as well as two other women have come forward about this, not to mention what I know about JP, I'm willing to give her the benefit of the doubt. Columbia should too and expel this guy, even if the evidence isn't there for him to be convicted of anything. When there's this much smoke there must be plenty of fire.
I'm pretty sure these pro-rapists comments don't come from the Columbia University community. I wouldn't be surprised if they are rapists writing in from prison. Hey, you're going to meet prisonmate Nungesser soon!
Wild funky sex - anal - then repentant the next day. The truth will set you free!!!
Wild funky sex - anal - then repentant the next day. The truth will set you free!!!
You are a sick, disgusting human being, who clearly doesn't understand the simple definition of rape. In fact, it scares me to acknowledge that you are probably a rapist yourself, because I don't know who else would have such an intense, cruel, and horrifying reaction to this kind of story.
What a horrific excuse for a human being you are. Even though I wish you could know our pain firsthand, I nevertheless pray that you -- and all others -- never have to go through what we've been through. The pain is unspeakable, and the trauma is never-ending. Please think twice before you post callous and insensitive remarks.
Dear anonymous Spec commenter,
I know you probably think you're "just" trolling, but you're also being a jerk. So tough, original, and brave [sarcasm], leaving anonymous comments on the internet trying to make light of a heavy situation. Grow up, and act like an adult.
It's not my usual style to tell people to shut up, but the situation calls for it: shut up.
Non-anonymously, of my own accord, and indexed by Google,
Katharine Celentano, GS
Hi, I was the one who commented. Not trolling at all. I was dead serious. This story was hot as hell and the fact that the ruined girl posted her picture makes jerking off to it that much more pleasurable. I don't give a fuck what people think. Yes Cody Wright is my real name.
Who wants to bet that "Cody Wright" is NOT the person who posted this? Let's look him up & tell him that someone is using his name to post comments like this.
Your style is saying whatever will get you elected and keep you in good standing like every other "student leader"
Cares about people, a lot my ass.
One issue that never gets spoken about: the poor value put on substantive human relationships and how that directly contributes to this problem of rape and sexual assault. I don't want to write an essay in a comment box (nor do I have the time at this moment), but knowing the person that you are having sex with, really knowing that person beyond the casual hookups, and knowing that each person actually loves and values the other person beyond a piece of flesh, is a great way to make sure horrific things like this never happen.
I agree with you. In this post feminism hook up world, no one has any respect for the next human being. Anyone can be discarded and replaced at any time. All empathy is gone and materialism reigns.
I reported tithe police 9 months after I was raped and there is evidence beyond physical injury that can be gathered. To rely solely on physical injury is to say rape only matters if the victim is physically injured, which is to dismiss sexual violation as a crime and only treat physical assault as the only crime occurring. If a person says no to sex it doesn't matter how gently the other person violates their body it is rape.
Also when I reported to the police it was one of the most difficult things I have ever done in my life. I still felt humiliated and violated to have to speak out loud what was done to me even though the investigator was wonderful.
Actually it is not rape. It is assault or possible battery. People use the terms interchangeably, and there is a huge difference.
I am so over this story and these people. I think they all should leave Columbia. This has occupied most of our year. There are other things going on on campus and the world too.
This is probably an incredibly stressful and draining time for you but please know that you are admired and respected by so many people for not giving up on this. Thanks for standing up to Columbia, NYPD and most of all to Jean-Paul Nungesser, the monster that raped you. They want you silenced so thanks for working so hard to make sure that doesn't happen.
Rape is wrong. Non consent is wrong. Beyond reasonable doubt is the law. Amazing how innocent status is trashed in the fury to condemn. This is Columbia?
The libel and/or slander suits are sure to follow in fall or later. Once a civil court finds for the plaintiff, the whole situation now moves to the absurd. If the victim will not or cannot file a complaint with law enforcement, the schools will quickly stop playing an active role here. Once the school loses a civil case, taking the alleged crime to an non-judicial entity will stop, maybe very fast.
Schools are not for criminal cases, criminal courts are.
This is a very slippery slope
I wonder how many obscene comments about female students have been left up on Columbia bathroom walls over the years. Bet you the administration never did anything about those.
I wish you well, my brother, in fighting these witches. In time, they will melt. Be patient, be strong.
I've been thinking on this case, and my thoughts are:
1. I tend to believe Emma Sulkowicz, because I doubt she would have come out the way she did, facing the consequences, if she weren't telling the truth. I understand she must have been distraught and confused at first, but time helped her clarify in her mind what had really happened and what she had to do for the sake of protecting of other women. I fully sympathize with her.
2. Jean-Paul Nungesser apparently subscribes to common belief among many men, that once a woman has consented to go to bed with them, they can do anything they want. Indeed, once the victim has consented, where can the limits be established? Granted. When she says stop. However, many men would believe the victim will be "grateful" once they get done. Furthermore, even if she isn't, since she had already consented at the beginning, who will believe her?
3. This poses a very difficult case for the authorities, both at the University and at NYPD, since they are also in a position in which they don't have the necessary legal elements to charge the accused. In this particular case, the "social networks" is the instrument of punishment, since Nungesser's reputation is already tarnished, regardless of the legal outcome.
4. While the victim never asks for violent behavior from the rapist, cases like this could be prevented if she hadn't put herself in the wrong situation in the first place. Demanding respect from male friends is most important from the very beginning. It may be late for Emma Sulkowicz now, but other girls should think before they engage in a relationship with someone unknown. This is touchy, and I know I'll be scorned for this comment, but it's nevertheless true.
I don't doubt the case will be used by "Law and Order SVU", they've already aired an episode based on the Amherst College case.
1. I tend to think Emma is insane (as per Einstein: insanity is doing the same thing over again, expecting different results
2. That is your sexist assumption. You do not know him, do you?
3. Nungesser will be fine. Emma tarnished her own name. The NYPD has extensive legal remedies.
4. You are prejudging. And you are wrong. Demanding women respect men is equally important (and rare)
I am disheartened to see that the University still doesn't take sexual assaults seriously. I graduated in 2000 and it was common knowledge that rapists were left on campus, particularly those who were athletes. I am happy to hear that Emma and other women are more pro-active than we were then. Perhaps, if we took the steps you did today, we could have saved some of you from this violence. Keep fighting the good fight.
Here's the problem Emma. In order for you to get someone accused of rape to be actually found guilty, you need proof. And you have none.
So basically you are libeling your way into a lawsuit. Have fun with that.
And to all of you who are going to respond and tell me how I'm part of rape culture or some other BS, just stop. I'm telling how it is. You can't just go to the police 1.5 years after a rape happened (I'm sorry, alleged rape) and expect that you're going to get the results you want.
Agree. She should have gone to the police immediatly. Rape is a crime.
At this point she should not be doing this.
If I were to claim that Emma Sulkowicz rape me, would that mean we should send the witch hunt after her? Is that how this works?
Would the Spectator run an article calling her a rapist?
Join: avoiceformen.com
Smash feminism. Smash the Matriarchy. Take back the day!
I have absolutely no connection with Columbia University, but I just wanted to send a heartfelt shout-out to Emma Sulkowicz. I believe her.
What Miss Sulkowicz is doing is so incredibly brave and courageous. She has been through more torment than I can possibly conceive, and I sincerely hope she is getting the help she needs. I urge all her classmates to surround her with nothing but love and support. It's heartbreaking that victim blaming is so rampant in cases of sexual assault. It doesn't matter what the victim is wearing or how much the victim drank; it doesn't matter what the victim's gender, race, ethnicity, religion, or sexual orientation is. It is NEVER the fault of the victim.
This country needs to address the sexual assault crisis on our campuses. Thank you Miss Emma Sulkowicz for helping pave the way.
Here is a SHOUT OUT to thank the women of Columbia University for what they are doing.
They are doing more to turn off good men and women from feminism than any men's rights group ever did.
Dang, what has happened to my alma mater: it has degenerated into fragile feme fetales who fear the sight of a penis, and think all men are evil. Dang, you women are sick and demented.
Why don't you make a lesbian porn movie in Butler? (Oh, you already did that?)
Too bad, Emma: a life destined for solitude due to your own exaggerations. YOur brought it on yourself.
There are way too many false accusations for anyone to take any claim as the final truth and without proper investigation. Do you know what has just happened at Vassar? Drew? other colleges.... girls filed complaints with colleges, described in detail how they were raped, guys they were involved with were immediately kicked out. Witnesses and no evidence that the guys were innocent were allowed. The guys were called rapists, spat on, kicked off campus, while the girls were surrounded by their "support group" that tried to eliminate any 'post trauma triggers".... it turned out that the girls were lying. Read the articles below. Now I don't know Emma's case inside out, and only she and the guy she was with know what really happened. It's up to the police to investigate. Rape is a serious offense, and should be dealt with in court but so should false accusations. They both leave serious trauma in people's lives.
while it is regrettable this had to become 'open', it is far more to be commended that this singular and individual person went through the 'glass ceiling' of the self serving institutional barriers to real justice. what remains now may be the usual money focused, legal snarls provided by the existing dark ages of institutional legacy, a legacy clearly unwilling to face the truths of violence and abuse that remains hidden and concealed by those very legacy protections.
Play today. Call it rape tomorrow? The sultry look. My opinion: she looks like a porn star.
Just to make sure I got it right... So you and a willing partner are having consensual vaginal sex with all the moans , the pawing of each others bodies, when one partner is saying dont stop or stop , hard to tell since you both been humping a good 10 minutes already, so legs and position are moved and then all activity stops. At which point did it become rape? Is there a number of seconds or number of humps being counted since the initial request to stop before it becomes rape? Should one moan of 'stop' in a room with loud progressive jazz mood music set playing be enough to guarantee that after 10 minutes it may not have been even heard? Please help... Last thing I want is to fuck anyone who just wanted a screw.
Babe - If we hook up / have sex - will you wait 1 year, then call it rape?
Babe - If we hook up / have sex - will you wait 1 year, then call it rape?
An absurd definition of sexual assault
"Consider Columbia's extraordinarily broad definition of "sexual assault," which goes far beyond anything in the criminal justice system, in two respects.
First, the university defines sexual assault as not only rape, as understood in the criminal justice system, but also "any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object without a person's consent. Intentional sexual contact includes contact with the breasts, buttocks, groin, or touching another with any of these body parts, or making another person touch any of these body parts; any intentional bodily contact in a sexual manner." How many people would consider such behavior--while indefensible--to constitute rape? To Columbia, however, forcible sexual penetration and nonconsensual "sexual touching, however slight" are both "sexual assault." And the fliers suggest that the message has been received.
Second, while the university notes that sexual assault, by definition, comes without consent, it modifies this provision in a critical way: "Alcohol and other drugs can lower inhibitions and create an atmosphere of confusion over whether consent is freely and affirmatively given." Taken literally, then, any alcohol use by the female party to sexual intercourse could call into question whether a Columbia tribunal will subsequently brand a male student a rapist, since even if the female gave consent, the university claim non-consensual contact on grounds of "confusion over whether consent is freely and affirmatively given."
In this atmosphere, accused students appear to be guilty until proven innocent, even as Title IX claims suggesting that the definitions above (coupled with procedures that deny accused students the right to counsel) unlawfully act against the rights of accusers.
As colleges adopt a de facto presumption of guilt in undertaking investigations for which they are in no way competent, they will be hit with more and more of these kinds of lawsuits. And it's fair to say that the presidents and administrators of these institutions are bringing it on themselves." K.C. Johnson
- See more at: http://www.mindingthecampus.com/originals/2014/05/here_come_the_lawsuits_over_se.html#sthash.B7ehPNXk.HEx9TmQX.dpu
Some of the comments on here make me sick. I am ashamed and disgusted to go to school with some of you people. No one gives a flying fuck whether you "believe her" or not, and you sure as hell have no right to make sick jokes about her "deserving it". I am so fucking happy I am not American. I swear to God I have never been in a country where this kind of bullshit is tolerated to this extent. Have you no empathy? Can you not imagine the strength it takes for someone to come forward like this and, in so doing, open themselves up to the woman-hating vitriol you seem so comfortable to spew? This country has a HUGE fucking entitlement problem. If you think you have a right to sex with a woman regardless of whether she says NO or not, then I hope you burn in hell.
And yes, I know it's "not all Americans". But I have never come across such ignorance and hate anywhere else in the world. So I apologise to all the wonderful Americans who managed to escape growing up with the idea that they have a right to whatever the fuck they want -- kudos for being human.
some of the comments seem too crude for your sensibility, those people make a point, though. I believe they would emphasize with real victims of sexual violence or at least those who report the violence immediately and not wait 2 years to accuse someone of something that is hard to prove. That said, the point is - just because someone accuses someone of rape does not mean that the accusation is true. That has been proven over and over again. What is needed is PROOF - otherwise, if you yourself are accused of something you didn't do - should we immediately believe the accuser. Now, don't get me wrong - I think that any violence is despicable but so are false accusations, so that's why we should be very careful with what we're assuming.
Yes, the language can be crude and offensive but it doesn't mean that people who are using that kind of language condone sexual assault and rape. Filing charges after 2 years..... well, you can expect that questioning will be thorough and tough. Otherwise everyone could be ruined based on someone's word alone. Sorry, but justice doesn't work that way! It this country, anyway. This is pure witch hunt and most of you are acting irrationally.
"This country has a HUGE fucking entitlement problem. If you think you have a right to sex with a woman regardless of whether she says NO or not, then I hope you burn in hell."
Well, most of us don't believe in heaven and hell. I don't know what country you're coming from, but you should check statistics there, first. Why are you here if it's that bad? To get a good education, I bet, so you can go back to your country and brag!
As angry as I get over the way rape is treated by Americans, in general, have you been to, say INDIA? or the MIDDLE EAST? Just SHUT UP, will you??? You sound even more ignorant than the rape apologists!
Its disgusting that any of this happened, but the fact the police treated her with such disrespect is aweful. Everyone who has hindered this rapists punishment should be jailed too. The uni is too scared to get a tarnished reputation, well far as I'm concerned they should be shut down if they allow rape
I'm sorry that she feels Columbia is not handling. This is also a reminder (and please do NOT misinterpret this for finger pointing) but Women, please think about who you are sleeping with casually! If I read correctly, she had sex with him twice, then during a third he went for the backdoor, she wasn't into, it stopped, now it's rape?
It is finger pointing. It's just the same old victim blaming masquerading as concern.
If you need to offer anyone advice on hook up culture how about focusing it on the perpetrator? Instead of finding a way to blame the woman you could have used your time to advise men to please think about who they sleep with casually and getting consent before they try penetrating people's anuses. Also not to assume that you can hit and strangle a woman. Porn is lying to you.
Emma is not only brave for coming forward, she is brave for keeping the focus on the issue. Yes, it would have been grand if she hadn't waited to come forward, but who amongst us hasn't hid a secret of something that made us ashamed? Unfortunately, rapists know that many women will not say a thing and so they feel brazen enough to continue. The guy who raped me, when I was about Emma's age, raped more women after, because I was not brave enough to expose him. Yes means yes. Anything less than that means no.
So it "started" consensual and was suddenly rape because he got a little rough? And then he did finally stop, but he didn't stop quick enough? Is there a specific limit of pumps according to this girl's definition of rape? This story is ridiculous.
One pump after she tells him to stop and tries to push him off.
Or one pump before he hits and strangles and anally penetrates another human being would also do.
And men say they don't need lessons about sexual consent.
I hope the accused male sues her for defamation. She is new unemployable for any real job. Typical feminist fascist.
You can't defame somebody if it's true. He could go ahead and try using her I guess, see how it stands up in court. Interestingly he hasn't.
I do not understand something. I hope someone can elaborate/enlighten... Rape is a crime, and if one rapes, that individual should be pressed to the fullest extent of the law and punished for the rest of their miserable life. That part is non-negotiable. Regardless of previous consensual encounters, if a man/woman say no, and the partner continues, it's rape. Also non-negotiable. Isn't the presumption of innocence until proven guilty also non-negotiable though?? Why is everyone so absolutely convinced that the man is guilty without a single shred of evidence? I'm not saying that he's guilty and I'm not saying that he isn't guilty. We just don't know. "You're not a rape victim, you wouldn't understand" is not proof. "She said he raped her so it must be true" is not proof. "I believe her because she sounds sincere" is not proof. Why is it okay to jump to the immediate conclusion that the man is 100% guilty? I don't mean to step on any toes, but I pose that as a legitimate question to all that are 100% convinced of this man's guilt. I am looking through an unbiased lens.
I believe her because she sounds sincere.
But that doesn't mean I think it's he's guilty or isn't guilty. I'm not the one to decide. And honestly, it's a crime with little evidence which subjective judges who are not in her favor. She probably won't see justice. When I say I support her it means I believe she is courageous and doing the right thing. Perhaps it won't take conviction to stop a serial rapist, or to make more guys ask for affirmative consent. If she did nothing, it would only ensure her rapist feels entitled to keep doing what he is doing.
I agree it's a shame that he had to learn this way, instead of educating himself on consent in the first place--a failing on both his part and society's. It's also a shame Emma has to relive her trauma constantly and will most likely not see justice.
How dare they not castrate this rapist in the quad based on this poor womyn's allegations made months after the attack, totally unsupported by any evidence? The patriarchy strikes again
They better have some really solid proof those guys on the fliers are guilty, or there are going to be some delicious libel lawsuits
NYC lawyers have it so easy
End NYC privlige when?
It's pretty sick that they allow her to openly bully someone like this, sounds like a solid defamation/slander case. That is an innocent man in the eyes of the law. He is not a rapist just because she says so. He was not tried, nor found guilty of any crime. What if he calls her a murderer? Is she then a murderer? Can we go around campus raising awareness for her as a murderer? This is disgusting.
I give you alot of credit - I would have pulled a dragon tatoo girl on him - got together with other victims get him to consensually party, then rufee him and engage some med students to hone thier colonsocopy skills. Hey - all for a good cause, frig carrying around a mattress, frustrated with the NYPD and Campus bull. An eye for an eye ! You'll got to sleep with a smile on, just lock the door :-)
This is so sad considering in NSOP they talk about reporting to all the resources on campus only to turn their back on the girls when they do. Columbia's reaction to all this seems to be more geared toward better press than actually solving the administrative problem of punishing rapists.
23 students signed on to Columbia's Title IX complaint. A Columbia administrator inadvertently sent a belittling e-mail to a student leader instead of another administrator displaying an attitude that is unacceptable. The students aren't impressed by the performance of the administration. Some students have resorted to posting lists of alleged perpetrators around campus. One student is carrying around a mattress as a political art statement. My daughter and I meet with Columbia admissions in six days at an event called Exploring Educational Excellence. It appears that educational excellence is taking place in a whirlpool of administration indifference. How well an administration responds to student needs is part of our decision-making process.
"There's a reason survivors choose not to go to the police, and that's because they're treated as the criminals," she said. "... survivors are guilty until proven innocent, at least in the eyes of the police."
It is a rare pig who treats a citizen like a human being and not like a 'perp'.
I am cannot imagine the pain your going through!! I just wanted to say I think want you are doing about is very awesome!! I think even though this awful thing happened to you, you are a very strong women!! I think your senior project is the best!!! The mattress has different meanings and getting other people involved will bring notice to these bad situations that happen over and over!! I am proud as a women of you and how you are working hard through this. Even when other women, police, college offices, or who else goes again you, you know you are doing what is right!!
Can someone PLEASE point out that the process for reporting rape is MUCH LESS "PAINFUL" if you report it right away instead of waiting a year and a half? Jesus.
on the contrary, it's probably much LESS painful.
Either way you'll be treated with disbelief. But at least you develop the strength to hold yourself up.
As someone who has personally experienced trauma, it took me 6 months before I could even think of the event with bawling hysterically. I can't even imagine having to recount the story over and over to other people, who blame me and accuse me of lying, while in that state.
One of the worst things about it was the way the officer actively, & in a *demeaning manner*, dismissed her complaint with the false "90% of these things are bulls#!t anyway." it's bad enough the average person is led to believe that lie, but for an officer of the law not to know the truth? HE should be DISMISSED IMMEDIATELY!
Since when is self justice an art piece?
I´m speechless.
If everyone were to behave like that... OMG.
To all idiots who claim she lied about her name on the police report: I got three speeding ttickets, and on EVERY SINGLE ONE the cop mispelled my name... When he had my license next to him with it spelled right out! Yes, the cops make mistakes when writing things like that down. Get over yourselves.
The university would be opening itself up to a serious lawsuit if it expelled the alleged rapist. Now, if he were a convicted rapist, it'd be different.
I'm not in anyway defending the guy or what was done to her, but the university is not a criminal prosecuting entity, they're an educational institution. Until the guy is convicted of a crime, they have no evidence to support his expulsion.
Treatment of victims by police is not part of their training. They are trained to view everybody with suspicion and this gets in the way of their humanity. To those posting comments questioning the victim or underlying motives are part of the problem. Our society views women as property, nuisances, nagging perpetuated by the media, music etc. Lacking in education and humanity themselves, those narrow-minded individuals, allow media, music etc to be their guide. Therefore degrading and demeaning a victim when she anxiously and terrified takes the painstaking step to report her attack. Ask yourselves, Why as a society we are so quick to want to find the fault in the victim? Rather than, Why as a society do we continue to allow such deplorable behavior such a rape?
I mean absolutely no disrespect to Emma (or any victim of abuse or violence). Nobody knows what happened in that room except the two parties there. But I ask this to those who all who have responded here, and again ask it with respect, so please no venom: I'm sure you all have male friends, many of whom are dating and sexual. Some might even be "dogs" or "players," but they're your friends so they must have some value in your eyes. How do you respond if one of them is accused of an "uncertain" or "questionable" rape, by a genuine and sincere sounding woman? Does your male friend get the benefit of the doubt because you know him and believe him when he claims innocence via consent, or is the accuser believed without question because she is a female victim in a culture of rape? I'm not asking what the Courts should do, I'm asking what is YOUR immediate reaction. Serious, non-hateful replies, please. Thanks.
The slanderous nature of this article is appalling. You actually report graffitti in a woman's bathroom as fact. Amazing.
You have declared this man guilty as charged, even though no charges have been filed.
You kids have a lot to learn.
Even a cursory reading of this article poses a tremendous amount of questions as to anyone's guilt or innocence. The damage you have done to Mr. Nungesser is permanent, and is easily a case of libelous journalism.
Amazing work. If we can't get something like this right on a college campus, we can't do it anywhere! Keep the spirit rolling.
Why don't these women come forward the day after it happens and press charges? Yes it's up to men to not commit these acts. But the numbers show that 96% of men don't. I don't know that you can reach the other 4%...maybe in a perfect world. These 4% need to be in prison. So why aren't they in prison? What good is blaming the system and the culture if we aren't challenging it to change? As a man, I could make a Facebook post saying that I'm against rape or go put up a sign somewhere but what good is that really going to do? Why aren't women reporting the crimes committed against them? You can blame rape culture for keeping these women from speaking out but the truth is silence on the part of rape survivors is keeping the system and the culture alive and well. Look at the outpouring of support these women from Columbia have received for doing so. I hate to sound like a "victim blamer" but the truth is that rape survivors are the ones that will ultimately have to bear the burden of changing our system and culture. And it's a burden that requires unthinkable sacrifice and courage. When half of rape survivors stay quiet, it hurts everyone.
Maybe the police were skeptical because Emma chose to wait nearly two years before reporting the alleged assault. It is interesting that Emma claims she was 'too embarrassed' to file a report but apparently has no problem drawing attention to herself in such a public manner. Rape is reprehensible. But then so too is the attempt to smear a young man with false accusations of sexual crimes in order to exact some sort of vengeance.
It is interesting that Emma claims that the University 'mishandled' her case. Emma should point the finger squarely at herself. Had she chosen to seek medical treatment, she would have been able to have the evidence necessary to pursue her claims for justice. One cannot expect the police or a university administration to ruin a young man's life on the word of a young woman who admittedly has had a sexual relationship with her alleged attacker (which establishes the possibility that her claims are vindictive and without merit) and who has no evidence to support her claim other than her word.
I don't think any prosecutor would be foolish enough to proceed with this case given the utter lack of physical evidence.
Yeah but that doesn't mean her claim is false, it just means there's no evidence and her attacker isn't getting prosecuted. I wonder why else would she be doing all of this? She'd have to be an extremely shitty human being if she were making it all up. I for one believe her, but she could have handled it way better as you stated. She's still drawing attention to the issue at hand, which has got to count for something.
One thing I don't see (and perhaps I just missed it) is a potential solution proposed by those who have been raped. What should the university do in such a case where accusations are brought against a student for assault? Should immediate expulsion be enforced? Should the standard for "conviction" be even lower than it presently is?
I dont believe her. I believed at first but her account of what the cops said is total horse it. Id bet everything Ihave on that she's a habitual liar that got away with it for so long because daddys princess would never lie. Then gets into the real world where her lies are questioned. My sister was the same way. Say anything to get what she wanted and damn whoever gets hurt in the process. It's also disturbing how she pegged him as a serial rapist when earlier she said other times were concentual.
This post is moving and truly depicts the unfortunate state of a woman trying to get justice, i hope the rapist is expelled if not put in jail as he not only committed the crime of sexual assault but physical abuse too. I pray for this young girl to get the justice she deserves, it must be terrifying to have the rapist around her in the campus!
The publishing of this man's name and is a blot the journalistic reputation of the Spectrum that will take decades to erase.
Am I missing where they present HIS side of this, asked him to explain his views, or heard from advocates for the falsely accused - is this an advocacy piece or a news story?
1) Columbia University dismissed her case
2) NYPD did not arrest or charge the alleged perpetrator after interviewing her
3) Manhattan DA's office declined to prosecute after interviewing her
I see a pattern here. There is no concern here that a man's life was ruined over allegations that have never been substantiated, even at a lower standard of proof by the University. But everyone her accepts her story on its' face as proof.
That Sulkowicz compares the posting of names of ALLEGED rapists with smiley face graffiti, indicates how lightly she takes defamation and slander. That she uses a term like "serial rapist" to describe a man found "not responsible" for any of the three unsubstantiated accusations, indicates that she is willing to trash due process, common decency and honesty in favor of creating a public lynch mob mentality.
That the Spec decided to join this lynch mob by publishing the name of the (evidently falsely) accused, only indicts the student press for an abject failure of the objectivity and fairness that journalism demands.
For the full story on Emma Sulkowicz's unwarranted national celebrity status, see: A Model of Campus Gender-Based Harassment: The Columbia University "Mattress" Story (https://riversong.wordpress.com/a-model-of-campus-gender-based-harassment/)


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New Hampshire swimmer banned from Paralympic competition
UPDATED 6:23 PM EDT Aug 12, 2013A New Hampshire swimmer said Monday it was "heartbreaking" to be told she couldn't compete in the Paralympic World Championships in Canada over the weekend.
Video TranscriptIT IS SAID THAT SHE CAN NO LONGER COMPETE BECAUSE HER DISABILITY MAY NOT BE PERMANENT. SHE TOOK THE MEDAL IN SWIMMING LAST YEAR, AND SHE WAS ALREADY IN MONTRÉAL, AND THEN SHE RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE SPORT'S GOVERNING BODY, TELLING HER IT IS ALL OVER. IT WAS SO HEARTBREAKING I MEAN, TO TRAIN SO HARD, AND TO HAVE IT ALL TAKEN AWAY, IT IS HARD. THE INTERNATIONAL PARALYMPIC COMMITTEE TOLD HER SHE WAS DISQUALIFIED BECAUSE HER ILLNESS WHICH HAS LEFT EAR IN A WHEELCHAIR SINCE AGE 11 MAY NOT BE PERMANENT, AND WITH THERAPY, THERE IS A CHANCE THAT SHE COULD WALK AGAIN. I WAS BEING PARALYZED FOR HAVING HOPE. THAT IS BASICALLY WHAT IT ALL CAME DOWN TO. SINCE THE BAN, SHE HAS BEEN FLOODED WITH SUPPORT. WITH APPEALS DENIED FOR NOW, HER FUTURE IS UNKNOWN, BUT ONE THING THAT IS CERTAIN, SHE IS NOT GIVING UP.
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text: Windows' marketshare is greatly declining and most apps have replacements. Games however have not. Direct3D 11 is fancy, but I think solid legacy (XP and previous) should be a lot more solid so Wine can act as a Dosbox for Windows games for Mac and Linux converts. The Windows days _are_ numbered.


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The Department of Economics at the University at Albany has started an exchange program with the Faculty of Economics at Tohoku University in Sendai City, Japan, involving both faculty and students. Read more about this program here.Pong S. Lee Award
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Insufficiently Trained, Can't Learn or Won't Learn?
Rightly or wrongly, training often bears the brunt of responsibility for rollouts of new products, services or processes, and often shoulders the blame if rollouts are unsuccessful. While acknowledging that inadequate training may occasionally be the root cause of such issues, those making the post-launch assessments must also be able to recognize the differences between learners who: (a) can't learn, (b) won't learn, or (c) were insufficiently trained.
Here are a few examples. For each example, we will rule out product flaws as a root cause. That is another discussion entirely.
Example 1 - A fleet launches a new handheld device for its drivers, along with the required process training for affected areas of the business. Several months after the launch, the company is not seeing the results it wants from the use of the handhelds. Data shows that many functions of the handheld are not being used as much as the company deems necessary to see ROI.
Very often in a case like this example, the finger is pointed at training. Functions aren't being used correctly, if at all, so it seems logical the users weren't taught. But, further investigation reveals that there have been a number of upgrades and updates to the software since its launch.
Yes, the root cause is insufficient training, but what the users were taught and what they are now using in the field are two different things. This has made the training invalid, and there is a huge difference between "invalid" training and "poor" training.
The solution in this case would be supplemental or follow-up training.
Example 2 - Let's assume the same scenario as in Example 1, but now the follow up analysis reveals that the users can't demonstrate proper use of the pull-down menus, input/output commands, data entry and other such tasks. In this case, it is very probable that some users are not computer-savvy enough to use the handheld device.
Most of the tasks that get used incorrectly or not at all are because the learner's can't learn due to a lack of basic computer skills. The solution is remedial training, or pre-study for any new learners.
While "can't learn" is the root cause, however, training may not be completely exonerated here. Lack of pre-training assessments or training that did not evaluate the students at the close of the session could be to blame.
Example 3 - The company launches new diagnostic laptops and software for its diesel engine technicians. Post-launch research reveals that the technicians used the tool frequently for a few weeks, but usage gradually tailed off until the technicians were again spending most of their time doing "seat-of-the-pants" diagnosis.
It very well may be that while the software and training were sound, the tool requires a considerable amount of hands-on practice to master after training. Users were enthusiastic at first, but struggled to gain the benefits that the tool should provide.
Thus, usage became a hindrance and too time consuming. Many simply set the tool aside and quit using it altogether.
This has become a situation where the users won't learn. The solution could be change management, or follow-up coaching and mentoring.
As you can see, there are often root causes outside of training, although training could also be a root cause in combination with others. Very often, there is more than one factor that hinders successful rollouts.
Be diligent in your post-launch assessments and you'll find the answers.
[ callout ]
Conducting post assessments will pinpoint why training may seem ineffective.
[ author's bio ]
Stephen Howe is employed as a field trainer by United Rentals, the world's largest equipment rental company, with approximately 600 locations in North America and an a rental fleet worth more than $3.5 billion. He is a past president of the Automotive Training Managers Council - a global non-profit organization dedicated to sharing best practices and recognizing outstanding training in the automotive and heavy vehicle industries.


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