Episode 327: Rock Opera Revolts Over Caucasian Cornrows

This week on Blocked and Reported, Jesse and Katie go to Baltimore, Maryland, where the Baltimore Rock Opera Society fired its brand-new executive director following objections to her Burning Man cornrows. This one features a bizarre, never-before-reported internal memo that lays out exactly what happened. Then, Mattress Girl revisited, and the surprising trajectory of Emma Sulkowicz.

Baltimore Rock Opera Society

Backstage as Baltimore Rock Opera Society prepares its latest: “Valhella”—Baltimore Brew

Baltimore Rock Opera Society 990 filings—ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer

After cornrows controversy, Baltimore Rock Opera Society’s new leader is out—The Baltimore Banner

Baltimore Rock Opera Society leader defends Burning Man cornrows that she says got her fired—The Baltimore Banner

Accusers and the Accused, Crossing Paths at Columbia University—The New York Times

Columbia Student: I Didn’t Rape Her—The Daily Beast

How to Make an Accused Rapist Look Good—Jezebel

Emma Sulkowicz’s annotated Facebook messages—Scribd

Nungesser v. Columbia University complaint

Columbia Settles With Student Cast as a Rapist in Mattress Art Project—The New York Times