Columbia Student Accused Of Rape Suing School For Defamation
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) - A student accused of raping another student at Columbia University says his reputation is ruined and is now taking the Ivy League school to court for defamation.
As CBS2's Janelle Burrell reported, the university cleared that student and no charges were ever filed, but he says because of the very public protests, he has been targeted and discriminated against.
Student Emma Sulkowicz claims fellow student Paul Nungesser raped her in 2012.
She alleged the university never took action against him and carried a mattress around campus to draw attention to sexual assaults at the school.
But after numerous demonstrations in support of Sulkowicz, Nungesser is now taking his case to federal court, reportedly accusing the university of discriminating against him, saying they've been a "silent bystander" of a "harassment campaign."
"I feel like Columbia didn't handle any of it very well," student Gene Fedoranko said. "He was publicly shamed so if he wants to sue, it's his right."
But many on campus defend Sulkowicz and her actions.
"The repercussions are very fair in my opinion," one student named Abby said.
"I support Emma 100 percent. I think we need to support victims of rape and I think the university is stalling and they need to take victims' lives seriously. (He argues that he was never charged and being unfairly targeted.) Well that process was not exactly open or transparent," student Alec Hall said.
Sulkowicz, who has been lauded for her stance on the issue, appeared as Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand's guest to the year's State of the Union speech.
Sulkowicz isn't named in the suit, but Columbia President Lee Bollinger and a professor who approved the protest as part of Sulkowicz's thesis project are.
"Hopefully going forward, this kind of thing can be properly dealt with the first time around and resolved," student Keri Tirrell said.
Nungesser is suing for damages.
University officials say they have no comment.