Columbia Students Are Writing The Names Of Accused Rapists On Bathroom Walls

[LanternWaste]

Frustrated with the lack of action from school administrators on the issue of sexual assault, some students at Columbia University are taking matters into their own hands. Over the past week, someone has started publicizing the names of alleged sexual predators on campus, warning other students to stay away from them.

The list first appeared on the wall of a women’s bathroom in the academic building Hamilton Hall. According to the Columbia Lion, someone wrote the names of four “sexual assault violators on campus” on the side of the stalls. The names appeared to be written in different handwriting, suggesting that more than one student had participated in the effort. After the school’s maintenance staff quickly scrubbed off the list, it reappeared in several other bathrooms on campus.

On Tuesday afternoon, students took it a step further. They printed the list onto fliers and distributed them to the most widely used bathrooms on campus. The fliers list the same four men, asserting that three of them remain on campus even though the university found them “responsible” of sexual assault. The fourth is identified as a “serial rapist.” The hand-outs urge the campus community to “stay safe”:


http://thinkprogress.org/health/2014/05/14/3437670/columbia-students-bathroom-lists/





And before we hear the cries of righteous indignation due to the "innocent before proven guilty" or the "mob justice" fallacies, bear in mind, " three of them remain on campus even though the university found them “responsible” of sexual assault..."

[ismnotwasm]

1. I think it's an excellent idea

Women's names have been on on bathroom walls for decades, explaining their sexual talents or proclivities. With phone numbers. Sometimes addresses. There's even a song about it. A real ear worm.

What's this "accusation" problem? Women are accused of giving blow jobs, 'being easy', 'taking it' in alternative orifices, doing 'it' with multiple males at a time, doing 'it' with females, being sluts, whores, c****, skanks, bitches, holes, dirty, nasty, smelly, 'lousy lays' cheating on boyfriends and spouses on and on ad nauseum--with certain actions so accused no doubt considered illegal.

So we have a whiny rapist issue now?

[lostincalifornia]

3. All names on bathroom walls should be removed regardless. However, if a person who has

done a sexual assault, and found to be involved in that sexual assault, which it was it the example given here, the university should not only have them removed from the university, and their names made public, but also reported to the police.

[LanternWaste]

6. And failing that, it seems the females are taking it upon themselves to ensure a safer campus than i

"the university should not only have them removed from the university... but also reported to the police."

And failing that (as was), it seems the females are taking it upon themselves to ensure a safer campus than is being afforded them, regardless.

[lostincalifornia]

2. If the university found them responsible of sexual assault, that is not "alleged". However, if a

person's name is put on the wall, and they wrongly accused, what is the remedy for that? I suspect the people putting the names on the wall are anonymous

[ismnotwasm]

4. The same remedy for having you name smeared all over a bathroom wall

With sexual sentiments or statements. Paint.

I understand your point, as rape is a serious crime but I don't see the difference in outcome

[lostincalifornia]

5. Names shouldn't be put on bathroom walls regardless. If there are sexual predators, and I would

even say suspects, those names should be made public because of the potential risk to the community.

Suspects of crimes are routinely named in the press. The only clarification I would make is that for suspects they need to say alleged, until it is determined to be factual.

The real problem I see in this case is with the university. If the university is not being responsive, perhaps it is time for a class action suit against the university for not providing a safe environment.

There is no question that sexual assaults are not taken seriously by this society. Just look at what happened in the armed forces, and that is a very controlled environment. It is far worse in the public sector.

[ismnotwasm]

8. I see

Good points.

I think what surprises me is that this made the news given the history of plastering opinions on bathroom walls.

[lostincalifornia]

12. Ironically I think it made news because of the unconventional posting of the names on the bathroom

walls.

I agree

[Tuesday Afternoon]

7. I agree ... same difference. Actually, I am wondering why it took women so long to

figure this one out. Sauce for the goose, Sauce for the gander.

I am thinking now that when I saw :Bobby is a shithead: on the bathroom walls all those years ago ...

if rape/sexual offense is what the writer was intending. Just the writer was not so blatant in their accusations.

[ismnotwasm]

9. I actually did it once

I know a sex offender. This is not conjecture on my part, he's been fired from 2 jobs at drug and alcohol rehabs for 'peeping' and touching women when they were asleep, years ago he stalked a women I was working with--showed up at her church AND her mothers house. I couldn't get her to call the police. The one 'rumor' I can't prove was a sexual assault on a passed out women. (actually there's more than one rumor) Early on (I've known him for years) I knew his ex-Wife. Saw the divorce papers. According to her, a porn addict among other disgusting activities.

He's a big goofy guy, people say "oh that just how he is" like how he "is" is ok.

I wrote on a bathroom wall basically that he was a sex offender, in a place were potential victims could see it. It stayed up for a while then was painted over.

Was that Juvenile? Yes. Do I regret it? No.

This guy is middle-aged now and has gotten away with everything. Quite a few people still like him. (When I first got FB I accidentally sent him a friend request, and he sent me a message saying, "why do you want to to be my friend-- you don't even like me"---told him it was a mistake and no I didn't like him.)

[Tuesday Afternoon]

11. ... lol ... about the friend request thing on FB ... it happens

and, I guess it -is- juvenile to write on bathroom walls, no matter the content.

Although, I think Graffiti is now considered an Art Form and

Poetry is poetry no matter Where one writes it, right?

Some just write :better: poetry than others

[lostincalifornia]

13. what else could you do if it isn't being addressed. Perhaps you protected some people from his

abuse

[mwrguy]

10. They need a billboard

Making fliers was a good one.

[lostincalifornia]

14. That is not a bad way to address it, especially if nothing is being done by the university

[Squinch]

15. Good for them!

Go Lions!