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            Tyler Clementi, a Rutgers University undergrad, threw himself off the George Washington bridge in New York City on Sept. 22, 2010.

            In the days before his death, Clementi’s roommate, Dharun Ravi, had used his web cam to spy on Clementi’s romantic tryst with another man, and tweeted about it to friends and classmates.

            Ravi was convicted on several charges including witness tampering, invasion of privacy, and intimidation bias.

            The maximum sentence for Ravi’s crimes is ten years in jail. Many, including some gay activists, were hoping for leniency in a case of a prank gone wrong, but nobody expected how lenient Judge Glen Berman would be.

            At the May 21 sentencing, Judge Berman scolded Ravi for his lack of remorse, saying, “I haven’t heard you apologize once.” He added, “you can’t expunge the conduct or the pain you caused.” But despite the harsh words, the punishment was light.  

            He sentenced Ravi to 30 days in prison as well as three years probation, community service, meager fines, and counseling on cyberbullying and alternate lifestyles.

            During sentencing, Berman said he believed Ravi acted not out of hate, but out of, “colossal insensitivity.” So the judge essentially overturned the intimidation bias conviction.

            Ravi did act out of hate. Clementi was different, and Ravi exploited that and set him up for ridicule. He did this because of Clementi sexual orientation.

            If Clementi had brought a woman to their room, would Ravi have spied on them and shared it with classmates? Unlikely.  

            Yet, even with just the invasion of privacy, witness tampering, and other charges not related to hate crimes, he should have received a stiffer sentence. He committed a detestable act, and tried to cover it up. 

            Judge Berman didn’t want to make an example of Ravi for whatever reason, but he ended up doing so with his sentence. He’s saying that anyone can spy on their roommate’s most intimate moments, gay or straight, drive them to suicide, lie to police, never apologize, and still expect leniency.

           

 

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