Dozens of Columbia University students brought their mattresses to a campus demonstration yesterday to support senior Emma Sulkowicz. Sulkowicz has been carrying a dorm room mattress around campus since the start of the semester as part of her senior thesis, and will continue to do so until the school expels her rapist.

There were nearly a dozen mattress laid out in front of the Alma Mater statue in the middle of campus. Students wore red tape on them reading, "Stand With Survivors," "Carry That Weight" and "CU Has A Rape Problem," and about 50 sexual assault survivors spoke about their experiences.

Sulkowicz is part of a group of 23 students who have filed federal lawsuits against Columbia, alleging the school violated their rights under Title IX, Title II, and the Clery Act, by failing to adequately respond to their complaints of sexual assault. Many other Columbia students have started supporting Sulkowicz in her project (which is called "Mattress Performance," or "Carry That Weight").

There was a collective carry on Wednesday organized by students and alumni who want "to help Emma carry the weight of the physical mattress, give her and other survivors of sexual assault in our community a powerful symbol of our support and solidarity, and show the administration that we stand united in demanding better policies designed to end sexual violence and rape culture on campus."

"When I heard about Emma's thesis project, I had a really strong reaction and felt I understood what Emma was doing as an artist and wanted to be in solidarity with her and other survivors," senior Allie Rickard, one of the organizers of Carrying The Weight Together, told Columbia Spectator. "I think there's been a general feeling from people among both schools that there's a great sense of support for Emma and other survivors and this would be great for people to get involved on a daily basis, and just show solidarity, and give Emma and other survivors support."

A coalition of students also delivered a letter [you can read it here] to the Columbia administration this week with detailing specific reforms they want the University to take to respond to sexual assault cases.