Carry Your Weight: Sexual Violence on College Campuses

Emma Sulkowicz is an activist, artist, and pivotal figure in the movement to end sexual assault on college campuses. A decade ago, Emma was sexually assaulted by a fellow student at Columbia University. After reporting her assault and being met with a lack of institutional support, she created the renowned performance art piece "Mattress Performance (Carry That Weight)," carrying a mattress as a visual representation of her struggle and the burden survivors often carry. This turned her into a symbol of – and an advocate for – addressing sexual assault within academic communities. In recognition of her contributions to the fight against sexual violence, Emma has received prestigious awards such as the Woman of Courage Award, the National Student Movement Builder of the Year Award, the Susan B. Anthony Award, and the Ms. Wonder Award, presented by Gloria Steinem. We are excited to hear from Emma about the role that art and activism can play in leading intersectional sexual violence response & prevention movements.