Campus Group 'No Red Tape Columbia' Continues To Protest 'Rape Culture' At University
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Anger and accusations continue to swirl around the Columbia University campus Monday over a lingering sexual abuse controversy.
On Sunday, the student group "No Red Tape Columbia" projected messages on Columbia's Low Memorial Library including "Rape Happens Here" and "Columbia Protects Rapists."
"I just think about how many people see that," one student told CBS2's Scott Rapoport.
The group describes itself as a rape survivor and activist group fighting what it calls the rape culture at the University.
"The situation at Columbia is very dangerous," said "No Red Tape" group member Zoe Ridolfi-Starr. "The university continues to try to sweep cases of gender-based violence under the rug. They continue to let rapists remain on our campus."
Columbia made national headlines last fall when Columbia senior Emma Sulkowicz inspired a day of protest over the handling of sexual assault at the University.
She said she was the victim of a 2012 sexual assault, but she said her alleged attacker was never investigated.
She gained notoriety for carrying a mattress around campus, and saying she would continue doing so until the alleged rapist was expelled.
Sulkowicz said the accusations were dismissed because it was found to be more likely than not that the rape didn't happen. But Sukowicz insists it did. She said the man has merely been order not to contact her in any way.
All of this has caught the attention of students on campus, Rapoport reported.
"I think the University is silencing survivors in an effort to keep their image pristine," said freshman Mirella Blum.
"I don't think that Columbia is doing worse than a lot of other campuses around the nation," said freshman Benjamin Fletcher.
In January, the federal government opened an investigation into how reports of rape on campus are investigated at Columbia University.
The U.S. Department of Education launched two investigations into claims that Columbia and the affiliated women's-only Barnard College violated Title IX against sex discrimination, WCBS 880's Alex Silverman reported.
CBS2 reached out to University officials hoping to get their side of the story.
They responded with a statement, saying they have met with many students involved and instituted changes, including:
*A Sexual Respect and Community Citizenship Initiative
*A revised policy for the investigation and hearing of gender-based misconduct claims
*2 rape crisis centers have been opened.
"No Red Tape Columbia" says 28 students have filed a Title 9 complaint against the University alleging sexual discrimination specific to sexual and dating violence cases on campus.
Last week, "Rolling Stone" magazine issued an apology and officially retracted its article about an alleged gang rape at the University of Virginia following a report released by Columbia University.
