Emma Sulkowicz, a senior at Columbia University, courageously brings the issue of sexual assault out of the private sphere and puts the issue on public display. On the first day of her sophomore year, Emma was raped. As part of her senior thesis, she has decided to visually represent the weight that she carries by carrying her mattress around campus. This performance art piece is a response to the school’s mishandling of sexual assault cases, including her own. Emma will be carrying her mattress around as long as she attends the same school as her rapist to visually represent the burden that she carries with her at all times since the assault. Emma’s actions went viral and sparked conversations around the country about this sensitive topic. Her influence has been so great, that it has even created a presence on our own campus.
Emma’s courage inspired Bucknell student Darriana Howard to create a similar movement on our own campus. In order to show support for Emma, as well as in an effort to generate conversation about rape culture and sexual assault at Bucknell, Darriana has encouraged students to carry their pillows around with them. This movement, called “Pillows for Emma” is also meant to show support for survivors of sexual assault at Bucknell. By carrying their pillows, Bucknell students have the opportunity to take this issue out of the bedroom and out into the open for constructive discussion. In addition, it is a way to show solidarity against sexual violence.