Rutgers plans vigil for student who committed suicide
October 3, 2010
Rutgers University will hold a vigil Sunday as the campus grapples with the suicide of a student whose sexual encounter with another man was broadcast online.
The body of Tyler Clementi, 18, was recovered from the Hudson River on Thursday, Sept. 30, more than a week after he jumped from the George Washington Bridge, which spans the river between New York and New Jersey.
Two other Rutgers students — Clementi’s roommate, Dharun Ravi, 18, and Molly Wei, 18 — have been charged with invasion of privacy. The pair allegedly placed a camera in Clementi’s dorm room without his knowledge and then streamed his sexual encounter online, according to the Middlesex County, New Jersey, prosecutor’s office.
The vigil will unite student organizations, campus offices and LGBT communities “as an opportunity for the members of the community and our allies to stand together united in peace, healing and social justice,” a statement from the university said.
On Friday, the president of Rutgers pledged to meet with members of the university’s gay community as the school deals with scrutiny in the wake of the suicide.
In a letter to the Rutgers community, President Richard McCormick praised what he called the school’s “strong history of social activism on behalf of diversity.” However, he said, the university “is an imperfect institution in an imperfect society.”
University officials declined to respond to CNN’s questions about when Rutgers first learned of the webcam incident, citing privacy laws. But a school spokesman said Friday that officials “did the best they can.”
“I have spoken to virtually every principal involved in this matter, and they have attempted to handle this matter to the best of their ability,” said Rutgers spokesman Greg Travor.
McCormick said that the incident has raised questions about the campus climate.
“Students, parents and alumni have expressed deep concern that our university, which prides itself on its rich diversity, is not fully welcoming and accepting of all students,” the president said in a letter.
New Jersey prosecutors were working to determine whether additional charges, including bias, may be brought against Ravi and Wei.
On the evening of Sept. 19, Ravi allegedly sent a message via Twitter about Clementi.
“Roommate asked for the room till midnight. I went into molly’s room and turned on my webcam. I saw him making out with a dude. Yay.”
Ravi tried to use the webcam again two days later, on Sept. 21, according to the Middlesex County prosecutor’s office.
“Anyone with iChat, I dare you to video chat me between the hours of 9:30 and 12. Yes it’s happening again,” Ravi is believed to have tweeted.
The next day, Clementi was dead.
A mobile status update Sept. 22 on a Facebook page purportedly belonging to Clementi said: “jumping off the gw bridge sorry.”
Clementi’s family has remained largely quiet, except to say that their personal tragedy has raised a host of legal issues for the country.
“Regardless of legal outcomes, our hope is that our family’s personal tragedy will serve as a call for compassion, empathy and human dignity,” the statement said.
— CNN’s Ross Levitt contributed to this report.