Rutgers Webcam Bully Finally Apologizes As He Heads To Jail

Last week, Dharun Ravi was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years of probation for using his webcam to spy on his Rutgers University roommate Tyler Clementi, who shortly thereafter committed suicide. This was far short of the 10 years maximum and deportation Ravi could have received. During the sentencing the judge noted Ravi’s reluctance to apologize for his misdeeds, as well as the calculated way he tried to cover them up. Now, as Ravi heads to jail for a month, he has finally issued an apology, describing his actions as “thoughtless” and “childish”:

RAVI: Last Monday, I was sentenced to 3 years probation, 300 hours of community service, a fine of more than $10,000.00, and 30 days in jail. Since the Middlesex County Prosecutor’s Office appealed that sentence, the sentence does not have to start until the appeal is decided. Nevertheless, I decided to accept and hopefully complete the sentence as soon as possible. It’s the only way I can go on with my life.

I accept responsibility for and regret my thoughtless, insensitive, immature, stupid and childish choices that I made on September 19, 2010 and September 21, 2010. My behavior and actions, which at no time were motivated by hate, bigotry, prejudice or desire to hurt, humiliate or embarrass anyone, were nonetheless the wrong choices and decisions. I apologize to everyone affected by those choices. I am surrendering myself to the Middlesex County Correctional Facility on Thursday, May 31, 2012, to start my 30-day period of imprisonment.

Intentionally rallying friends to invade a roommate’s privacy while he’s being intimate with another man seems very much about humiliation and embarrassment, which suggests Ravi still doesn’t fully take responsibility for his actions. Nevertheless, he seems to have taken ownership of his fate and has finally admitted that he has done wrong, which will hopefully allow everybody affected by the loss of Tyler to move forward.