Last year, as a freshman, I spent some time sitting with a group of seniors, so I know who the roommate is personally. He honestly was a pretty cool guy, and I sincerely doubt any of his fatal actions were intentional. While he did make a huge ass blunder that cost the life of another human being, I still think it's important that people understand he is a human being like the rest of us, and like all people he has his flaws. Just like a normal person, he is entirely capable of making very stupid mistakes. But I don't think it is at all necessary to impose harsh punishment on someone just because of their lack of foresight. I'm sure all of us have done foolish things in our lifetime that we regret, but should we lose all that we have lived up for just because of the mistake? Dharun and Molly are just like that. They spent the last twelve years of their life living an honest life towards college. Contrary to how the media treats them, they have family and siblings who care for their them much more than they care for themselves. They're not stupid kids either. They both are hard workers who earned they're right as American citizens into a university to expand they're educations. By putting them in prison for five long years, not only will they lose their academic privileges, but they'll also lose their opportunities for helping the world. If you ask me, in today's society, forcing our capable young thinkers into a dark, lonely prison is counterproductive. Every bright mind is significant in a world like ours that simply needs innovation.
Based on the messages mentioned in the article it sounds like the entire thing was intended as a joke - a pretty bad and unthoughtful one admittedly - but still a joke for the people on his friend's list on a live cast. It just so happens that the joke got out a little out of hand and circulated around campus, causing a huge big fuss and finally the suicide. In my honest opinion, Tyler Clementi overreacted. There are many other solutions to his problem besides suicide, but instead he had to use the dreaded final option. Because of these multiple blunders on the part of these three students, we are on the road to losing three units of our most important natural resource of all - human minds. The genes of evolution created these three bright young minds, but the harsh fist of fate is making us have them fall from our grasp. We already lost one of these minds, but punishing the other two to the point in which they can't contribute for the world is just the same as killing them. Accidentally causing a suicide could be considered heartless, but forcing two people to a life of pain and ridicule is just as harsh. And for all of the media corporations calling them homophobes, I know that's not what they are. Admittedly, many times in my own life I attempted doing stupid things for the sake of providing humorous situations for my peers that I eventually regretted. I imagine this must be the same for them, and even if I'm wrong I highly doubt this was an act of hatred towards a particular group. News corporations have been known to blow things out of proportion. Remember swine flu? I almost certain this must be a similar situation.