Page 125 of Fall into Place

Text message transcript: Joni Chaudhari and Tess Rosenbloom

Joni [10:14 AM]: TESS TESS OH MY GOD TESSSSSSS

Joni [10:14 AM]: Sorry I know you’re at the disciplinary hearing, I’m gonna be there to hug your face off when it’s over, but I had to tell you about the apartment IMMEDIATELY?!?!

Joni [10:15 AM]: Ok first of all the building has a DOORMAN, who is happy to accept packages and buzz in takeout and also call one of the building’s COMPLIMENTARY CARS AND DRIVERS for us any time we need???

Joni [10:16 AM]: There is MAID SERVICE and BUTLER SERVICE (idk what that is) and also a view of the park??? And both our rooms have ensuites?? With massive tubs?!?! Oh my god we have a vampire sugar mama and I’ve literally never been happier

Joni [10:16 AM]: (Also don’t worry our rooms are at opposite ends of the floor you will never have to hear it when Octavia comes to town)

Joni [10:17 AM]: Ok I’ll see you at 11, hope everything goes great. I’m so proud of you no matter what happens and I love you so so much!!!

Joni [10:26 AM]: OH MY GOD THERE IS A BUILT-IN ESPRESSO MACHINE AND THE BUTLER WILL SOURCE BEANS FOR US THAT IS WHAT HE DOES

Transcript of Tess Rosenbloom’s victim impact statement at Columbia University Dean’s Discipline Hearing

Good morning, and thank you for taking the time to listen to my statement. It’s been three years since Rick Keeton drugged and sexually assaulted me, after which I began to experience severe anxiety and panic attacks and dropped out of my PhD program as a result. I’m grateful to have been given the opportunity to return to Columbia this semester, and that I feel strong enough to be on a campus where the man who assaulted me is still a student too. But I don’t think I should have to endure any more stress, panic, and terror on his account than I already have—and I think it’s appropriate that he experience consequences for his actions. That’s why I decided to move forward with disciplinary proceedings against him.

You have a big decision to make today regarding whether Rick will be allowed to remain a PhD candidate on this campus. You may choose to consider leniency, because after all, this happened long ago. And it’s often said that young men shouldn’t have their whole lives ruined because of one mistake.

But what about our lives?

What about all the women who’ve fallen in love with schools or cities or careers, who’ve had our futures derailed because we had to make impossible choices to navigate our trauma as best we could, to keep going, to stay alive?

In coming forward, I knew there was a chance I’d be labeled as just “that girl who Rick assaulted.” But I know that I’m so much more than what he did to me—I want my life to be bigger, and happier, and more fruitful than the impact of his actions. And I want Columbia to be more than the place where I was assaulted. Years from now, when I look back on my time in graduate school, I want to think of my professors, the sparks of inspiration they engendered in me. I want to recall my fellow students, our long hours laughing and debating literature, their unconditional support when I told them what happened to me, the way they took it upon themselves to make sure I would never again walk anywhere on campus alone.

There is so much good in this place, in these people. I think the way we stay good is by standing up for each other. Finding some small way in our own lives to emulate the heroes we admire in our favorite books. It’s probably easier to turn a blind eye, to shut our mouths and move on. But don’t we owe each other something more?

No matter what you decide, I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today. I spent far too long staying silent. It feels really, really good to use my voice.

——Forwarded Message——

From: Professor Lareina Vázquez

To: Joni Chaudhari

Sent: April 3, 10:01 AM

Subject: Congratulations!

Joni, I was so delighted to hear you were appointed as a new assistant professor in our department—congratulations! I don’t know if you heard, but you beat out nearly a hundred applicants for the position. I am so proud of you, and I know you deserve this. I hope you know it too.

On a personal note, I want to say how moved I was by your proposal to start a support system for survivors of gender-based violence inside the department. I was horrified to hear about Rick Keeton, and glad the university decided to expel him—but we must do more. I want to help with your proposal in any way I can. Let’s have coffee next week to discuss?

Congratulations again. Look forward to speaking soon. LV

Text message transcript: Tess Rosenbloom, Nantale Anguyo, Hamish Shields, and Sylvie Kamler

Sylvie [1:23 PM]: Hello? Is this working?

Hamish [1:23 PM]: Oh my GOD, Sylvie made a group thread?!? I’m LIVING.

Sylvie [1:23 PM]: My son got me this phone, I hate it.

Sylvie [1:24 PM]: But I wanted you all to know we’re having seder at my daughter’s place on the Upper West Side on Thursday night, and you’re welcome to join us.

Sylvie [1:25 PM]: Sunset is at 7:43, so we’ll start at 8. Good?