" Highly selective and strained interpretation of actual events" — that's the way a Columbia University representative describes Emma Sulkowicz, of mattress-carrying fame, and her characterization of Columbia University president Lee Bollinger turning his back and leaning down instead of shaking her hand at graduation.

"I even tried to smile at him or look him in the eye, and he completely turned away," she told the New York Times. "So that was surprising, because I thought he was supposed to shake all of our hands."

Sulcowicz has become famous for carrying a mattress around the Columbia University campus and claiming she was raped by fellow student Paul Nungesser, which he denies.

The university did not find evidence of her claim, but her "art project" won national acclaim anyway and she was allowed to carry the mattress in Columbia University's graduation ceremony.

The representative for the university said in a statement to NY Mag:



As thousands of people saw in person and video of the event illustrates, the students who chose to carry a mattress in their hands marched right past Dean Valentini and President Bollinger rather than pausing for traditional handshakes with either the College Dean or University President. That is their right, but the idea that there was any intended "snub" is incorrect and does not ring true to anyone who knows President Bollinger and his graciousness.

The video below shows what happened: Bollinger turned to grab a bottle of water from his seat when Sulkowicz's name was called, and as she approaches, he puts the water bottle back. He seems to be talking to one of the students that helped Sulkowicz carry the mattress across the stage.

Of course, this isn't the first time Sulkowicz's characterization of events has been called into question. The most famous instance of that is the alleged rape itself.

Nungesser, who provided the media with extensive friendly chat messages between Sulkowicz and himself both before and after the alleged rape took place, says when he first heard she was accusing him he thought: "It has to be a misunderstanding. Maybe she meant a different guy, or something completely strange happened."