<p>I am hesitant to get involved in discussions like these, because I feel like I can never adequately distance myself from the issue. However, I will say this: I was the subject of bullying in high school, some of it arguably just as cruel-spirited as Ravi’s actions have been perceived, and some of it sexual in nature.These things are, for lack of better word, damaging, although just how damaging they are depends a lot on the targeted individual as well. God knows my sense of self-worth took a pretty significant hit, and although things are MUCH better now then they were my sophomore year in high school, I can’t say it’s something I ever truly got over. Bullying is damaging, whether you are gay or straight, male or female, etc.</p>
<p>That being said, I shudder to think that some of the kids in my high school could have been prosecuted for their actions, and I am vehemently against the idea of Ravi being deported. Yes, I know that the charges that Ravi faced–and was convicted of–did not directly address Clementi’s suicide, but focused on the nature of Ravi’s actions; however, had Tyler not committed suicide, would Ravi really have ever been charged with anything if the University found out about his actions? Of course not. The University would have dealt with the issue, and that would have been that. But because of Tyler’s actions, Ravi’s case has become a prolific “example” and the face of the anti-bullying campaign, and has faced more public vilification than a lot of convicted, hardened criminals face. Personally, while I know that it would have been absolutely inappropriate to do so, I almost agree with the user who said that reading Tyler’s suicide note might have helped the jurors to distance Ravi’s actions from Tyler’s actions after the incidents. In my opinion, he’s pretty clearly being prosecuted for his role in Tyler’s death, even if the charges are not directly related to the suicide.</p>
<p>Please forgive me if I am coming off as insensitive to the Clementi family. That is absolutely not my intent. I’ll be honest: I don’t completely forgive a lot of the people who made my life miserable in high school, especially those responsible for sexual harassment. I went to a large high school and I am not the only one who was miserable; bullying was a pretty widespread problem, and some people received treatment that was a lot more cruel than I did. But deporting someone for actions like these? Are you kidding me? Ruining his entire life for a small, vindictive mistake is not the way to make this situation better; in fact, it probably engenders negative feelings towards the anti-bullying movement, who are perceived as overzealous. </p>
<p>Ravi should be punished for his immature and cruel actions, but I absolutely don’t think he should be deported.</p>