A troubling incident at a New York University dorm has sparked a heated back-and-forth between a student and the administration.
Eloni Belcher, a sophomore at NYU, alleges that her roommate urinated on her while she was asleep in their shared space at the Bloom Street Residence Hall. This disturbing event reportedly took place just before 5:30 AM on April 12, as Belcher, who is studying at the Tisch School of the Arts, relayed to the Post.
“It was horrifying,” Belcher, 19, expressed, sharing that she had considered her roommate a friend. When she awoke to the situation, she instinctively raised her arm to shield herself, only to find her roommate continuing the act.
Belcher, originally from Michigan, resisted the urge to retaliate against her roommate, who is also on a scholarship, noting the potential consequences of any physical confrontation. “I knew if I did something, I’d end up facing the consequences,” she added, emphasizing the strict policies on campus regarding fighting.
She reported that her belongings, including clothes and bedding, were soiled, which she presented as evidence to school officials.
“They moved me to another room,” Belcher stated, detailing her request for temporary housing within the same dorm. When she inquired about why she had to relocate, the administration’s response felt dismissive, implying they couldn’t just remove her roommate from the situation.
In contrast to her roommate’s perspective, who claimed she was sleepwalking, Belcher felt her allegations were not being taken seriously. The roommate refuted the claims, suggesting Belcher was fabricating her story.
The ongoing situation seemed to have no prior issues, except for a small request from Belcher to lower the volume during a phone call just a day before the incident.
Belcher decided to file a complaint with NYU’s Department of Campus Safety and Student Conduct, later confirming that the police had also been informed. After not hearing back from school officials by April 15, she turned to social media to raise awareness, and her story has since garnered millions of views.
“I was assaulted,” she declared in an Instagram video. “Why would I uproot my life so close to the end of the semester?”
Interestingly, instead of addressing her claims, NYU has communicated to Belcher that she is also under investigation for her social media posts. She expressed frustration, suggesting the university was trying to shift blame onto her, denying her any freedom of speech in this matter.
“It’s been incredibly frustrating,” Belcher noted, explaining how NYU’s handling of her case left her feeling lost and mistreated, especially since she believed that serious incidents would be dealt with appropriately.
NYU spokesperson John Beckman acknowledged the seriousness of the allegations and reiterated that the university takes all matters involving student safety seriously. He mentioned that they are looking into Belcher’s claims, but roommate discipline isn’t being pursued, citing privacy laws that restrict disclosure of student records.
