The two Rutger students responsible for the suicide of Tyler Clementi's suicide, has withdrawn from school.
Steven Altman of New Brunswick, the attorney for Dharun Ravi, Clementi's roommate, said the withdrawals of Ravi of Plainsboro and his co-defendant Molly Wei of Princeton, both 18, mean neither face university disciplinary hearings.Their withdrawal sparked a group called, Queering the Air to protest:
"They were given the option of withdrawing and they can reapply,'' Altman said. "Realistically, they couldn't go back no matter what. He definitely plans to go somewhere else.''
Altman said both students withdrew earlier this month, but he did not have an exact date.
He was unable to comment on what Ravi has been doing since removing himself from school.
Withdrawal was raised as a possibility by university officials during phone conversations in early October, Altman said.
The group also condemned comments made on several websites that mentioned the two students' Asian background and posted messages that urged the two to "return to their countries,'' according to Felton.source
"We are against the crucifixion of two individuals for the sins of the larger society,'' said Robert O'Brien, an anthropology instructor and one of the leaders of Queering the Air.
According to Felton, the group, and other organizations on campus that represent gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender students, have "re-claimed'' the word queer, once considered an offensive slur.
Among the chants led by O'Brien Wednesday night were, "Queer liberation. Human liberation. It's all one struggle.''
In a press release, the group condemned Garden State Equality, an advocacy group that demanded Ravi and Wei be charged with hate crimes and receive "the maximum possible sentence.''
Goldstein, the director of Garden State Equality, the largest advocacy organization in the state for gays and lesbians, called Queering the Air a "radical fringe group.''
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