February 5, 2013

Lautenberg, Holt reintroduce the Tyler Clementi Act

On Monday, the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act was reintroduced in the 113th Congress by Senator Frank Lautenberg and Congressman Rush Holt of New Jersey. This legislation would, for the first time, require publicly funded universities and colleges to establish enumerated anti-harassment policies. The bills would also provide funding to universities and colleges to either create or expand anti-harassment policies, and would also officially recognize cyber-bullying as a form of harassment.

The legislation is named in honor of Tyler Clementi, an 18 year old freshman at Rutgers University who tragically took his own life after two students streamed video of him with another male and continued to harass him about the incident. Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Holt released the following statements:

“The tragic impact of bullying on college campuses has damaged too many young adults, and it is time for our colleges to put policies on the books that would protect students from harassment.” – Senator Frank Lautenberg (NJ).

“It is not enough simply to denounce cruelty, bullying, and harassment.  We must create meaningful policies to bar this toxic behavior from our college campuses.” – Rep. Rush Holt (NJ-12).

GLSEN thanks Senator Lautenberg and Congressman Holt for their leadership on this important issue, and support them in the fight to make universities and colleges safer places of learning and growth for all students.

   

About David Pourshoushtari

       

David is the Public Policy Assistant for the Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.